Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain Maiden Figure "Kugelspielerin"
View Similar Items
Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain Maiden Figure "Kugelspielerin"
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.5 in (36.83 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
- Style:Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Unknown
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The Ball was attached with adhesive tape to keep it safe.
- Seller Location:Guaynabo, PR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5431220898702
Meissen Porcelain
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.
- Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain Figurine Of A Greek Mythology’s MuseBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Guaynabo, PRA Meissen Porcelain Greek Mythology’s Muse figurine playing the Lute. She can be Erato, the muse of lyric poetry, particularly erotic poetry and mimic imitation. It depicts a lady dr...Category
Early 20th Century German Neoclassical Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain Figurine Of A Middle East LadyBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Guaynabo, PRA Meissen Porcelain figurine of a Middle East lady. It depicts a lady dressed with a white and pink robed garb. She is wearing a Middle East headdress painted green and turquoise col...Category
Antique Early 19th Century German Other Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Rothschild Pattern Birds Set of Cup And SaucerBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Guaynabo, PRThis is a hand painted Meissen porcelain cup and saucer. It is featuring the Rothschild pattern birds with some insects and butterflies. The cup as ...Category
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
$600 Sale Price / set20% Off - Set of Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain Scalloped Bowl/PlateBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Guaynabo, PRThis is a set of Meissen hand painted porcelain bowl/plate. It depicts in the center a couple of cherubs holding a garland of flowers and also a wreath of green leaves while they are...Category
Early 20th Century German Rococo Decorative Bowls
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Figure Group of a Shepherdess and SoldierBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Guaynabo, PRThis is a Meissen Porcelain figure group of a shepherdess and a soldier. It depicts this pastoral scene of this romantic couple, she is seated in the grass with a letter in her hand ...Category
Early 20th Century German Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Chinese Hand Painted Small Wine Pot or TeapotLocated in Guaynabo, PRThis is a small Chinese hand painted wine pot or teapot depicting a red background with some tiny different colors flowers. In the front and back center there is a scene of a Chinese man riding a "dragon...Category
20th Century Macanese Chinese Export Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Hand Painted Porcelain PlateBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vilnius, LTMeissen porcelain plate in relief decor and hand painted in gold.Category
Mid-20th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique German Meissen Hand Painted and Gilt Figural Porcelain CandlestickBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Big Flats, NYAntique Meissen porcelain figural candlestick features hand painted and gilt maiden in garden setting with candle stick having applied foliate and ivy decoration, "as is" with losses...Category
Antique 19th Century German Candlesticks
MaterialsPorcelain
$760 Sale Price20% Off - Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Plate/TrayBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vilnius, LTMeissen Porcelain plate/tray with hand painted floral motives and rich gold decor.Category
Mid-20th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/TrayBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vilnius, LTLarge Meissen Porcelain serving plate/tray with hand painted floral motives and rich gold decor. Marked on the bottom. Sword with two slashes.Category
20th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large Meissen Hand Painted Gilded Porcelain Serving Plate/TrayBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vilnius, LTLarge Meissen Porcelain serving plate/tray with hand painted floral motives and rich gold decor.Category
20th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique Meissen Autumn Figural Candlestick in Hand Painted PorcelainLocated in Copenhagen, DKAntique Meissen autumn figural candlestick in hand painted porcelain. Model number 1190. 19th century. Measures: 28.5 x 13 cm. In excellent condition...Category
Antique 19th Century German Rococo Revival Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
$2,400 Sale Price20% Off