Skip to main content

Meissen Porcelain Paintings

German

Meissen Porcelain (Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen) is one of the preeminent porcelain factories in Europe and was the first to produce true porcelain outside of Asia. It was established in 1710 under the auspices of King Augustus II “the Strong” of Saxony-Poland (1670–1733), a keen collector of Asian ceramics, particularly Ming porcelain.

In pursuing his passion, which he termed his “maladie de porcelaine,” Augustus spent vast sums, amassing some 20,000 pieces of Japanese and Chinese ceramics. These, along with examples of early Meissen, comprise the Porzellansammlung, or porcelain collection, of the Zwinger Palace, in Dresden.

The king was determined, however, to free the European market from its dependence on Asian imports and to give European artisans the freedom to create their own porcelain designs. To this end, he charged the scientist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and aspiring alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger with the task of using local materials to produce true, hard-paste porcelain (as opposed to the soft-paste variety European ceramists in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain had been producing since the late Renaissance). In 1709, the pair succeeded in doing just that, employing kaolin, or “china clay.” A year later, the Meissen factory was born.

In its first decades, Meissen mostly looked to Asian models, producing wares based on Japanese Kakiemon ceramics and pieces with Chinese-inflected decorations called chinoiserie. During the 1720s its painters drew inspiration from the works of Watteau, and the scenes of courtly life, fruits and flowers that adorned fashionable textiles and wallpaper. It was in this period that Meissen introduced its famous cobalt-blue crossed swords logo — derived from the arms of the Elector of Saxony as Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire — to distinguish its products from those of competing factories that were beginning to spring up around Europe.

By the 1730s, Meissen’s modelers and decorators had mastered the style of Asian ceramics, and Augustus encouraged them to develop a new, original aesthetic. The factory’s director, Count Heinrich von Brühl, used Johann Wilhelm Weinmann’s botanical drawings as the basis for a new line of wares with European-style surface decoration. The Blue Onion pattern (Zwiebelmuster), first produced in 1739, melded Asian and European influences, closely following patterns used in Chinese underglaze-blue porcelain, but replacing exotic flora and fruits with Western varieties (likely peaches and pomegranates, not onions) along with peonies and asters.

During the same period, head modeler Joachim Kändler (1706–75) began crafting delicate porcelain figures derived from the Italian commedia dell’arte. Often used as centerpieces on banquet tables and decorated to reflect the latest fashions in courtly dress for men and women, these figurines were popular in their day, and are still considered among Meissen’s most iconic creations. Kändler also created the Swan Service, which, with its complex low-relief surface design and minimal decoration is considered a masterpiece of Baroque ceramics.

The rise of Neoclassicism in the latter half of the 18th century forced Meissen to change artistic direction and begin producing monumental vases, clocks, chandeliers and candelabra. In the 20th century, Meissen added to its 18th-century repertoire decidedly modern designs, including ones in the Art Nouveau style. The 1920s saw the introduction of numerous animal figures, such as the popular sea otter (Fischotter), which graced an East German postage stamp in the 1960s. Starting in 1933, artistic freedom was limited at the factory under the Nazi regime, and after World War II, when the region became part of East Germany, it struggled to reconcile its elite past with the values of the Communist government. In 1969, however, new artistic director Karl Petermann reintroduced the early designs and fostered a new degree of artistic license. Meissen became one of the few companies to prosper in East Germany.

Owned by the State of Saxony since reunification, in 1990, Meissen continues to produce its classic designs together with new ones developed collaboratively with artists from all over the world. In addition, through its artCAMPUS program, the factory has invited distinguished ceramic artists, such as Chris Antemann and Arlene Shechet, to work in its studios in collaboration with its skilled modelers and painters. The resulting works of contemporary sculpture are inspired by Meissen’s rich and complex legacy.

Find a collection of authentic Meissen Porcelain on 1stDibs.

8
to
7
1
8
8
8
2
1
1
8
Height
to
Width
to
8
8
2
1
8
8
326
119
78
58
53
Creator: Meissen Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Plaque Depicting Mary Magdalene
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large 19th century German Meissen rectangular porcelain plaque depicting Mary Magdalene reclining reading from a book. After Antonio Allegri (Ita...
Category

1870s German Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Rare and Large Classical Trompe-L'oeil Meissen Porcelain Plaque
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Rare and large classical Trompe-l'oeil meissen porcelain plaque. German, 19th century. Measures: frame: height 60 cm, width 55 cm, depth 5 cm. plaque: height 45 cm, width 40 cm. ...
Category

19th Century German Classical Roman Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain, Giltwood

19th C. Meissen Porcelain Plaque of 'the Banishment of Ishmael and Hager'
By Meissen Porcelain, Adriaen van der Werff
Located in New York, NY
A 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Plaque of 'The Banishment of Ishmael and Hager', in its Original Frame. This fantastic Meissen porcelain plaque depicts...
Category

1870s German Baroque Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Reticulated Cabinet Plate with Flower Bouquet and Raised Forget Me Nots
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large beautiful flower bouquet. The Meissen plate has a very intricate reticulated or ...
Category

1890s German Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

19th C. Meissen Porcelain Plaque Depicting Rembrandt and Saskia in the Tavern
By Meissen Porcelain, Rembrandt van Rijn
Located in New York, NY
An incredible and very rare 19th Century Meissen porcelain plaque depicting Rembrandt and Saskia in the Tavern. Meissen plaques are incredibly rar...
Category

1860s German Baroque Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Twelve Meissen Dessert Plates Masterfully Painted with Different Fruits
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is a wonderful set of twelve Meissen dessert plates each masterfully painted with different fruit paintings. They are from 1880s, and they ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Victorian Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Plaque Depicting Four Royals Hunting in the Woods with a Dog and Rifles
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
An exceptionally fine and quite larege Meissen hand-painted porcelain plaque depicting four royals hunting in the woods with a hunting dog and rifles. This is the finest quality of a...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Louis XVI Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

19th Century Meissen Porcelain Plaque
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptional and rare Meissen porcelain painted plaque depicts a young boy wearing white outfit with blue cape and a yellow oxide braided ...
Category

19th Century German Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Related Items
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Oil on Canvas Screen with Trompe L’œil
Located in IT
18th century, large Italian neoclassical oil on canvas four panels screen with Trompe L’œil These large screen is composed of four panels in oil on canvas painted. Neoclassical, dating to the second half of the 18th century. Each panel represents a trompe l'oeil, with a classical architecture with square section marble columns and large clogging. Inside the pink space of the first and third panels are painted, as inserted in a niche with bronze frame, ancient busts...
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Meissen Porcelain Pot-Pourri Vase, Germany, 19th Century
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Meissen porcelain pot-pourri vase, Germany, 19th century.
Category

Late 19th Century German Rococo Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Four Meissen Porcelain Plaques Depicting the Four Seasons
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
This delicately detailed set of four allegorical porcelain plaques portrays family scenes within the theme of the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Spring can be ide...
Category

Early 19th Century German Folk Art Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Metal

17th Century Oil on Canvas French Religious Painting Mary Magdalene, 1670
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
Antique French painting from the second half of the 17th century. Painting oil on canvas, in fabulous patina, depicting a religious subject Magdalene of excellent pictorial quality. ...
Category

Late 17th Century French Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Antique Painted Porcelain Plaque Depicting an Orientalist Beauty, Signed Vienna
By Royal Vienna Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
A very large and magnificent antique painted porcelain plaque depicting an orientalist beauty dressed in silk, jewelry, pearls, and 24-karat raised gold and enamel, signed Vienna. Th...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Chinoiserie Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Enamel

Botanica Hand Painted Ceramic Plates Set of 6 Dessert Plates Made in Italy
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
These stunning plates are Made in Italy by local artisans the border is hand painted while the fisure at the centre is a printed image Food safe and dishwasher safe Measure: 2...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Ceramic

Meissen Porcelain Deep Cabinet Plate with Handles
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Meissen Porcelain deep cabinet plate with handles. This piece is hand painted in cobalt blue with floral motive in the center and richly decorated gold ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Insect Set of 4 Porcelain Dessert Plates
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
What is more colorful than a colorfulr insect? Butterflies, dragonflies, beed and ladybugs will make your table sparkle.
Category

2010s Italian Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Meissen Porcelain Coffee Cups with Saucers
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of Meissen Porcelain coffee cups with saucers richly decorated with gold. Measures: Cup: h 5 x7.5 x 9 cm Saucer: 12 cm .
Category

Mid-20th Century German Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

8 Meissen Germany 19thc Cobalt Reticulated Porcelain Plates with Courting Scenes
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Savannah, GA
A ring of stunning cobalt blue frames the center of the courting scenes on this lovely eight piece set of painted porcelain plates. The reticulated basketweave edges are highlighted with gilt touches throughout, as well as additional gilt around the cobalt rings...
Category

19th Century Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain Plate from Meissen, Germany, Late 19th Century
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Chorzów, PL
Blue onion plate from Meissen Germany Signature from late 19th century Very good condition, small chip shown at the picture.
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain Plate
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Meissen porcelain plate in relief decor and hand painted in gold.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Previously Available Items
Meissen Reticulated Cabinet Plate with Large Bouquet and Raised Forget Me Nots
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large detailed flower bouquet with a large tulip and other flowers. The Meissen plate ...
Category

1890s German Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Reticulated Plate Painted with Flower Bouquet and Raised Forget Me Nots
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large beautiful flower bouquet with a large tulip and other flowers. The Meissen plate...
Category

1890s German Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Open Work Cabinet Plate Painted with a Bouquet and Raised Forget Me Nots
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large beautiful flower bouquet with a large tulip and other flowers. The Meissen plate...
Category

1880s German Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Cabinet Plate Painted with a Beautiful Bouquet and Raised Forget Me Nots
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large beautiful flower bouquet. The Meissen plate has a very intricate reticulated or ...
Category

1890s German Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Open Work Cabinet Plate Painted with a Bouquet and Raised Forget Me Nots
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large beautiful flower bouquet. The Meissen plate has a very intricate reticulated or ...
Category

1890s German Romantic Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Reticulated Plate with Raised Forget Me Nots and Painting of a Seascape
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
Very special Meissen reticulated cabinet plate with a painting of a seascape with people on shore and boats on the sea in the background. There is an openwork intricate border, which...
Category

Late 19th Century German Other Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Meissen Porcelain Plaque “Rape of Europa” after François Boucher
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th century large Meissen Porcelain Plaque Entitled “Rape of Europa” after François Boucher Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’ (II, 835–875) tells of the a...
Category

Late 19th Century German Belle Époque Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Giltwood, Porcelain

Antique Pair of German Meissen Pictorial & Reticulated Porcelain Plates
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of German porcelain plates by Meissen offer central hand painted courting scenes in countryside settings with scalloped and re...
Category

19th Century German Victorian Antique Meissen Porcelain Paintings

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Porcelain paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Meissen porcelain paintings are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of porcelain and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Meissen Porcelain paintings, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original paintings by Meissen Porcelain were created in the Baroque style in germany during the 19th century. Prices for Meissen Porcelain paintings can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,400 and can go as high as $88,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $31,650.
Questions About Meissen Porcelain Paintings
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To spot a fake Meissen, first, check the maker’s mark, generally found on the bottom of the porcelain. Meissen used a simple mark, so if you spot one that appears too embellished, it may be a fake. Shop a collection of properly vetted Meissen porcelain from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

Recently Viewed

View All