Fondée en 1710 près de Dresde, en Allemagne, la manufacture de Meissen fut la première en Europe à produire de la véritable porcelaine à pâte dure. Créée sous le patronage d’Auguste le Fort, électeur de Saxe, Meissen a révolutionné la céramique européenne en mettant fin à la dépendance vis-à-vis de la porcelaine chinoise importée. La percée fut le fruit des expériences menées par Johann Friedrich Böttger, alchimiste, et Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, scientifique, dont les travaux permirent de mettre au point la formule d’une porcelaine à pâte dure durable et de grande qualité. Le succès de Böttger conduisit directement à la création de la manufacture de Meissen, dont il devint le premier directeur.
Dès ses débuts, Meissen allia innovation technique et excellence artistique. Le sculpteur Johann Joachim Kändler a rehaussé la production de la manufacture avec des chefs-d’œuvre rococo, notamment le célèbre Service des cygnes (1737–1742), démontrant la maîtrise de Meissen en matière de figurines, de peinture sur émail et de design naturaliste. Au cours des XVIIIe, XIXe et XXe siècles, Meissen a su s’adapter à l’évolution des styles, du néoclassicisme à l’Art nouveau, tout en préservant sa tradition d’artisanat peint à la main.
La porcelaine de Meissen se reconnaît facilement à la marque des épées croisées, introduite en 1720, l’une des plus anciennes marques de fabrique au monde. Toujours produite à Meissen, en Saxe, elle reste très recherchée par les collectionneurs, les musées et les connaisseurs des arts décoratifs européens. Aujourd’hui, Meissen incarne des siècles d’innovation, de maîtrise technique et de raffinement artistique, consolidant sa place en tant que symbole du luxe et du patrimoine de la porcelaine allemande.
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'SCHNEEBALLEN' VASES
MID TO LATE 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, PRESSNUMMER 2
AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN BUST OF HARLEQUIN
19TH CENTURY, AFTER A MODEL BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'PAGODA' FIGURAL INCENSE-BURNER
CIRCA 1720-1725, THE GILT DECORATION POSSIBLY AUGSBURG
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN CHINOISERIE TEA CADDY AND COVER
CIRCA 1725-1728, BLUE ENAMEL CROSSED SWORDS MARK, GILDER'S 64. TO EACH PIECE
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 LARGE MEISSEN PORCELAIN FLOWER-ENRCUSTED FIGURAL MIRROR FRAME
LATE 19TH CENTURY
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN COMPOSITE BLUE AND WHITE ONION PATTERN PART DINNER, TEA AND COFFEE-SERVICE
19TH AND 20TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, PRESSNUMMERN, INCISED AND PAINTED NUMERALS, A FEW PIECES WITH CANCELLATION MARKS
A MEISSEN ARMORIAL RETICULATED BOX AND COVER (DRÜSELKÄTSCHEN)
LATE 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER AND INCISED NUMERALS
AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN PASTORAL GROUP
POSSIBLY CIRCA 1755-60, POSSIBLY 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK AND PRESSNUMMER 143
TWO MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'SCHNEEBALLEN' FLARED BEAKER-VASES
MID-18TH CENTURY, FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS
A GILT-METAL-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN SNUFF-BOX AND COVER
CIRCA 1750-55, THE MOUNTS CONTEMPORARY WITH THE PORCELAIN
TWO GILT-METAL-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF PUGS
THE FEMALE CIRCA 1745, THE MALE 19TH CENTURY, THE MOUNTS 19TH CENTURY
A MEISSEN FIGURE OF A SINGING MINER WITH A LUTE ( BERGSÄNGER MIT LAUTE )
CIRCA 1750, UNDERGLAZE BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO BACK OF BASE
A PAIR OF MEISSEN LARGE MODELS OF PARROTS
LATE 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, PRESSNUMERN AND INCISED MODEL NUMBER B 43 TO ONE AND A 43 TO THE OTHER
A MATCHED PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN FRUIT AND FLOWER-ENCRUSTED VASES
LATE 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, INCISED NUMERALS AND PRESSNUMMERN, ONE WITH INCISED LINE ABOVE THE SWORDS MARK
A GROUP OF TEN MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF BIRDS
19TH AND 20TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, VARIOUS IMPRESSED AND INCISED NUMERALS
A MEISSEN WHITE MODEL OF A GREAT BUSTARD (OTIS TARDA)
1732, ATTRIBUTED TO JOHANN GOTTLIEB KIRCHNER, INCISED INITIALS AS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BEAK FOR ANDREAS SCHIEFER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIVE-VASE GARNITURE
CIRCA 1738, EACH BASE WITH A BLUE CROSSED SWORD MARK AND PRESSNUMMER 21, LIKELY PAINTED BY J.E. STADLER
A PAIR OF ROYAL MEISSEN PORCELAIN YELLOW-GROUND BEAKER-VASES MADE FOR SCHLOSS HUBERTUSBURG, THE HUNTING LODGE OF AUGUSTUS III
CIRCA 1739, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS AND DREHER'S MARKS
A MONUMENTAL LOUIS XV ORMOLU AND MEISSEN AND FRENCH PORCELAIN CLOCK
CIRCA 1750, THE PORCELAIN FIGURES ATTRIBUTED TO J.J. KÄNDLER, THE FLOWERS VINCENNES AND SEVRES PORCELAIN, MOST SOFT PASTE; THE CLOCK MOVEMENT BY EDME-JEAN CAUSARD, PARIS
A MEISSEN (AUGUSTUS REX) PORCELAIN ROYAL ARMORIAL PART TEA AND CHOCOLATE-SERVICE
1725, BLUE AR MARKS AND VARIOUS DREHERS' MARKS, PAINTED BY J.G. HÖROLDT
A MEISSEN SILVER-GILT-MOUNTED CHINOISERIE TANKARD AND COVER
CIRCA 1725, THE MOUNTS 18TH CENTURY
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 MEISSEN FIGURE OF THE 'GREETING HARLEQUIN'
CIRCA 1740, MODELED BY J.J. KANDLER
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
A MEISSEN GROUP OF 'THE HAND KISS'
CIRCA 1737
A MEISSEN GROUP OF 'THE MOCKERY OF AGE'
CIRCA 1740, INDISTINCT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO BASE
A MEISSEN ARMORIAL OVAL MONTEITH FROM THE SWAN SERVICE
CIRCA 1740, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 28
A MEISSEN GROUP OF HARLEQUIN AND COLUMBINE
CIRCA 1740
A LARGE MEISSEN PORCELAIN PLATINUM AND FAUX TORTOISHELL CAMPANA VASE
CIRCA 1870, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, INCISED MODEL NO. G 174, PRESSNUMMER 19
A MEISSEN ARMORIAL OVAL MONTEITH FROM THE SWAN SERVICE
CIRCA 1740, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 28
A GARNITURE OF FIVE MEISSEN PORCELAIN HEXAGONAL VASES AND COVERS
THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1725-28, THE DECORATION CIRCA 1740, BLUE CADUCEUS MARKS TO THE BALUSTER VASES, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO THE BEAKER VASES, THE COVER OF THE CENTRAL VASE A LATER REPLACEMENT
A MEISSEN (AUGUSTUS REX) BLUE AND WHITE CHINOISERIE BALUSTER VASE AND COVER
CIRCA 1725, BLUE AR MONOGRAM MARK, 310 INVENTORY NUMBER
A PAIR OF MEISSEN PORCELAIN (AUGUSTUS REX) KAKIEMON HEXAGONAL VASES AND COVERS
CIRCA 1730, UNDERGLAZE BLUE AR MARKS AND INCISED MARKS
GRAND ELEPHANT EN PORCELAINE DE MEISSEN DU XVIIIE SIECLE
MARQUE EN BLEU AUX DEUX EPEES CROISEES
A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MANTEL CLOCK
MID-18TH CENTURY, THE MEISSEN PORCELAIN CIRCA 1740, FOUR PRESSNUMMERN 48 TO UNDERSIDE OF BASE, THE CONTINENTAL PORCELAIN FLOWERS 18TH CENTURY AND LATER, THE MOVEMENT BY TAYOT, PARIS
FOUR MONUMENTAL MEISSEN PORCELAIN FRUIT AND FLOWER ENCRUSTED VASES AND COVERS
19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, INCISED MODEL NOS. 1065 TO WINTER AND 1179 TO FALL, BOTH WITH INCISED 50
A MEISSEN SILVER-GILT-MOUNTED SNUFF-BOX
CIRCA 1737, THE MOUNTS PROBABLY CONTEMPORARY
A BÖTTGER WHITE PORCELAIN VASE AND COVER
CIRCA 1715
TWO MEISSEN PORCELAIN MODELS OF JAYS
CIRCA 1740, FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, MODELED BY J. J. KÄNDLER
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURE GROUP OF FRÖLICH AND SCHMIEDEL
DATED 1742, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, MODELED BY J.J. KÄNDLER
A LARGE MEISSEN PORCELAIN BLUE-GROUND MYTHOLOGICAL 'LIMOGES ENAMEL' CAMPANA VASE
CIRCA 1860, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 8 AND INDISTINGUISHABLE INCISED LETTERS AND NUMERALS
A MEISSEN CHINOISERIE PART TEA AND CHOCOLATE SERVICE
CIRCA 1738-40, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, GILDER'S 37. TO ALL PIECES, SOME PIECES WITH DREHER'S MARKS, SOME WITH PRESSNUMMERN , THE MOUNTS LATER
A MEISSEN (K.P.M.) PORCELAIN TEAPOT AND COVER
CIRCA 1728, UNDERGLAZE BLUE K.P.M. MARK, BLUE ENAMEL CROSSED SWORDS MARK
A MEISSEN FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN TEASING A PUG
CIRCA 1740
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN GROUP OF THE IMPETUOUS LOVER
CIRCA 1740-45, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK AND PRESSNUMMER 45 TWICE
A BÖTTGER PORCELAIN TEAPOT AND COVER
CIRCA 1715-17, THE DECORATION CIRCA 1717, JOHANN GEORGE FUNCKE WORKSHOP, DRESDEN