From its inception, Meissen combined technical innovation with artistic excellence. The sculptor Johann Joachim Kändler elevated the manufactory’s output with Rococo masterpieces, including the renowned Swan Service (1737–1742), demonstrating Meissen’s mastery in figurines, enamel painting and naturalistic design. Over the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Meissen embraced evolving styles from Neoclassicism to Art Nouveau while preserving its tradition of hand-painted craftsmanship.
Meissen porcelain is easily recognised by the crossed-swords mark, introduced in 1720, one of the world’s oldest trademarks. Still produced in Meissen, Saxony, it remains highly sought after by collectors, museums, and connoisseurs of European decorative arts. Today, Meissen exemplifies centuries of innovation, technical mastery and artistic refinement, cementing its place as a symbol of luxury and German porcelain heritage.
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF GULLS
CIRCA 1753, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, THE MODELS ATTRIBUTED TO J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODEL OF A SWAN
CIRCA 1748-1750, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO BACK OF BASE, TWICE IMPRESSED 75, POSSIBLY MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODEL OF A COCKEREL
THE PORCELAIN MID-18TH CENTURY, THE DECORATION OF LATER DATE, FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN ‘PADUAN COCK’ TUREEN AND COVER
CIRCA 1773, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODEL OF A PARROT EATING CHERRIES
CIRCA 1740-1745, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF PARAKEETS
19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS PARTIALLY VISIBLE TO THE SIDE OF THE BASE ON ONE, AFTER THE MODELS PROBABLY BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF SWANS
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1748-1750, POSSIBLY MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER, THE DECORATION 19TH CENTURY, THE ASSOCIATED ORMOLU BASES CIRCA 1745-1749
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODEL OF A THRUSH
CIRCA 1745, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO SIDE, MODELED BY TO J.J. KÄNDLER
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF PARTRIDGES
CIRCA 1745, VERY FAINT TRACE OF BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO ONE, PRESSNUMMER 54 TO THE OTHER, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF GOLDEN ORIOLES
CIRCA 1750, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO ONE, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND J.G. EHDER
TWO MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF KINGFISHERS
CIRCA 1765, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS AND DOT MARKS, THE MODEL BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND J.F. EBERLEIN
AN ASSEMBLED PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF WAXWINGS
THE MEISSEN PORCELAIN BIRDS CIRCA 1741, FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO ONE, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND J.G. EHDER, THE ORMOLU MOUNTS OF A LATER DATE AND ASSOCIATED
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF JAYS
19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, AFTER THE MODEL BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF GREEN WOODPECKERS
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1760, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, THE ORMOLU MOUNTS OF A LATER DATE
A PAIR OF LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF MAGPIES
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1740, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER, THE ORMOLU MID-18TH CENTURY AND ASSOCIATED
A PAIR OF LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF ROLLERS
CIRCA 1740, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF J.G. EHDER, THE ORMOLU MOUNTS MID-18TH CENTURY
AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODEL OF A WAXWING
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1741, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND/OR J.G. EHDER, THE ORMOLU OF A LATER DATE
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF HOOPOES
THE PORCELAIN MID-18TH CENTURY, THE DECORATION OF LATER DATE, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND J.G. EHDER
A PAIR OF LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF WAXWINGS
THE MEISSEN PORCELAIN BIRDS CIRCA 1741, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND J.G. EHDER; THE FLOWERS 18TH CENTURY AND LATER, THE ORMOLU MID-18TH CENTURY
A GOLD-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN OVAL SNUFF-BOX AND COVER
CIRCA 1750-1760
A GOLD AND SILVER MOUNTED GEM-SET MEISSEN PORCELAIN SNUFF-BOX AND COVER
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1740-1750
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN GOLD-GROUND TUREENS AND COVERS
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1745, PRESSNUMMER 26 TO EACH COVER, THE ORMOLU MOUNTS 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF SEATED HARES
THE PORCELAIN MID-18TH CENTURY, THE DECORATION OF LATER DATE, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF GREYHOUNDS
THE PORCELAIN MID-18TH CENTURY, THE DECORATION OF LATER DATE, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO THE BACK OF EACH BASE, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN SQUIRREL AND A LOUIS XV ORMOLU BASE
THE PORCELAIN MID-18TH CENTURY, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO THE SIDE OF THE BASE, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER, THE LOOSE ORMOLU BASE OF SIMILAR DATE
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF CATS
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1741, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER, THE ORMOLU MOUNTS FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF PUGS
CIRCA 1745, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER, POSSIBLY ASSISTED BY P. REINICKE, THE ORMOLU BASES LATE 19TH CENTURY
A ROYAL PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF CROUCHING WOLVES
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1747-1750, TRACE OF SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO SIDE OF ONE, PROBABLY MODELED BY P. REINICKE, BLACK AND PUCE K.H.C. MARKS FOR THE KÖNIGLICHE HOF-CONDITOREI
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF WOLVERINES OR BEARS
CIRCA 1750, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO THE BACK OF EACH BASE, ONE TWICE IMPRESSED 42, THE MODELS ATTRIBUTED TO J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODEL OF A LION
CIRCA 1741-1745, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF A LION AND LIONESS
CIRCA 1741-1745, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURE GROUP OF A SULTAN RIDING AN ELEPHANT
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1749, THE DECORATION POSSIBLY LATER, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PROBABLY MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER AND P. REINICKE, THE BASE MID-18TH CENTURY AND ASSOCIATED
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURE GROUP OF A TURK RIDING A RHINOCEROS AND AN ORMOLU BASE
THE PORCELAIN 19TH CENTURY, SMALL PARTIAL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO BACK OF RHINO'S LEFT FOOT, THE LOOSE ORMOLU BASE OF LATER DATE
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURE GROUPS OF HORSES AND GROOMS
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1750, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, THE MODEL ATTRIBUTED TO J.J. KÄNDLER, THE MOUNTS OF LATER DATE
A PAIR OF ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF MONKEYS
THE MONKEYS CIRCA 1750, THE MODEL ATTRIBUTED TO J.J. KÄNDLER; THE PORCELAIN FLOWERS 18TH CENTURY AND LATER, THE ORMOLU BASES 19TH CENTURY
A GERMAN SILVER-GILT MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN HAUSMALEREI TANKARD AND COVER
THE MOUNTS WITH MARK OF JOHANN GEORG HERKOMER, AUGSBURG, 1724-1728, THE PORCELAIN DECORATED IN THE SEUTER WORKSHOP, AUGSBURG, CIRCA 1724
AN ASSEMBLED MEISSEN PORCELAIN ORNITHOLOGICAL PART DINNER SERVICE
MOST PIECES SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, SOME WITH DOTS, A FEW WITH INCISIONS AND OUTSIDE-DECORATED, VARIOUS IMPRESSED NUMERALS
AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURAL POT-POURRI CENTERPIECE AND COVER
THE PORCELAIN MID-18TH CENTURY, FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO SIDE OF BASE, THE ORMOLU OF A LATER DATE
A GOLD-MOUNTED GERMAN PORCELAIN SNUFF-BOX AND A COVER
THE BOX CIRCA 1740 AND MEISSEN, THE TOP 19TH CENTURY
A GOLD-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN DOUBLE SNUFF-BOX AND COVERS
CIRCA 1745-1750
A GOLD-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN RECTANGULAR TOBACCO-BOX AND TAMPER
PROBABLY MID-18TH CENTURY
A GOLD-MOUNTED GERMAN PORCELAIN ‘CARNET DE BAL’
PROBABLY 2ND QUARTER 19TH CENTURY, POSSIBLY MEISSEN