Meissen porcelain & ceramics

Meissen Porcelain, founded in 1710 near Dresden, Germany, was the first European manufactory to produce true hard-paste porcelain. Established under the patronage of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony, Meissen transformed European ceramics by ending reliance on imported Chinese porcelain. The breakthrough came through experiments by Johann Friedrich Böttger, an alchemist, and Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, a scientist, whose work unlocked the formula for durable, high-quality hard-paste porcelain. Böttger’s success directly led to the creation of the Meissen manufactory, where he became its first director.

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 BÖTTGER PORCELAIN GILT WHITE COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

CIRCA 1715-1720, PERHAPS DECORATED AT AUGSBURG

A MEISSEN FIGURE OF THE 'GREETING HARLEQUIN'

CIRCA 1740, MODELED BY J.J. KANDLER

THREE HAUSMERLEI PORCELAIN DRINKING WARES

THE SAUCERS BÖTTGER, CIRCA 1720; THE WINE-CUP CHINESE PORCELAIN, CIRCA 1700; THE DECORATION ON ALL THREE ATTRIBUTED TO IGNAZ PREISSLER CIRCA 1720-1725

A BÖTTGER PORCELAIN OVAL SUGAR-BOX AND COVER

CIRCA 1725, THE BOX INTERIOR WITH BLUE K.P.M. AND CROSSED SWORDS MARK, GILDER'S 73 MARKS TO BOTH

A MEISSEN PORCELAIN TEAPOT AND COVER

CIRCA 1723-1724, BLUE K.P.M. AND CROSSED SWORDS MARK

A MEISSEN (AUGUSTUS REX) PORCELAIN BALUSTER VASE AND COVER

CIRCA 1730, BLUE UNDERGLAZE AR MARK, INCISED X, PROBABLY PAINTED BY J.E. STADLER

A MEISSEN PORCELAIN OZIER-MOLDED LOBED CHARGER

CIRCA 1740-1745, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 67, INCISED ///// TO FOOTRIM

A MEISSEN PORCELAIN PLATE FROM THE ‘HANBURY WILLIAMS / NORTHUMBERLAND SERVICE’

CIRCA 1748, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 16

FIVE MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES OF MUSICIANS

FOUR CIRCA 1755, THE DRUMMER'S PORCELAIN CIRCA 1755 BUT WITH LATER DECORATION; SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

FIVE MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

FOUR MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES

THREE CIRCA 1755, THE PLUCKER PORCELAIN CIRCA 1755 BUT THE DECORATION LATER; SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

FOUR MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLE SELLERS

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, THE GRAPE SELLER WITH UNDERGLAZE BLUE 3, VARIOUS PRESSNUMMERN, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

A PAIR OF MEISSEN FIGURES OF A COURTESAN AND A DANDY FROM THE ‘CRIS DE PARIS’ SERIES

CIRCA 1755, FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE DANDY, PRESSNUMMERN 36 AND 37, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

THREE MEISSEN PORCELAIN MALE 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

THREE MEISSEN PORCELAIN MALE 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACKS OF THE FIRST TWO, VARIOUS IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

THREE MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES OF FISH AND GAME SELLERS

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF EACH, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

THREE MEISSEN PORCELAIN FEMALE 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE MACAROON AND CHEESE SELLERS, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, THE FIRST MODELED BY F.E. MEYER, THE OTHER TWO MODELED BY P. REINICKE

TWO MEISSEN PORCELAIN MALE 'CRIS DE PARIS' FIGURES OF ENTERTAINERS

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS TO THE BACK OF THE BASES, PRESSNUMMERN 21 AND 27, MODELED BY P. REINICKE

TWO MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRYES OF LONDON’ FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO THE BACK OF EACH BASE, PRESSNUMMERN 11 AND 12, MODELED J.J. KÄNDLER AND/OR P. REINICKE

FIVE MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRYES OF LONDON’ FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, THE FEMALE QUAKER POSSIBLY LATER-DECORATED; SMALL BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS TO THE BACK OF EACH BASE, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED J.J. KÄNDLER AND/OR P. REINICKE

FIVE MEISSEN PORCELAIN 'CRYES OF LONDON’ FIGURES

CIRCA 1755, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, VARIOUS INCISED AND IMPRESSED NUMERALS, MODELED J.J. KÄNDLER AND/OR P. REINICKE

TWO MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURES FROM THE ‘GALANTE KAPELLE’ SERIES

THE PORCELAIN CIRCA 1750-1760, THE DECORATION ON THE CONDUCTOR OF LATER DATE; VERY FAINT BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO ONE, MODELED BY F.E. MEYER

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 GOLD-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURAL SNUFF-BOX AND COVER

CIRCA 1745

A GILT-METAL MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN MOUSE-FORM SNUFF-BOX AND COVER

CIRCA 1745

A GOLD-MOUNTED MEISSEN PORCELAIN OVAL SNUFF-BOX AND COVER

CIRCA 1755

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