Set of 12 Meissen Blue Onion Teacups and Saucers with a Gold Rim
View Similar Items
Set of 12 Meissen Blue Onion Teacups and Saucers with a Gold Rim
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)Diameter: 6.75 in (17.15 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 24
- Style:Other (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1923-1933
- Condition:In excellent antique first quality Meissen condition.
- Seller Location:Boston, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5389220353802
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.
- Set of Twelve Meissen Blue Onion Large Crescent Shaped DishesBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAI would like to offer you this rare set of twelve blue onion Meissen large crescent shape dishes. This shaped dish was originally used to put along the side of your dinner plates to collect your bones. That is why they were originally called bone dishes...Category
Vintage 1930s German Other Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Twelve Meissen Dessert Plates, Each with Museum Quality Paintings of FruitsBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAMagnificent set of twelve Meissen fruit or dessert plates with museum quality paintings of different fruits on each plate. If you scroll through the pict...Category
Antique 1870s German Victorian Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Chinese Butterfly or Schmetterling Pattern Dinner ServiceBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAI am proud to offer you this famous and rare Meissen Chinese butterfly dinner service. Each piece is painted in the Kakiemon style with a central Chinese butterfly on a branch, surrounded by flowering branches. The central part of the plates is from the Chinese famille verte porcelain, while the flowers around the edge are influenced from the Japanese Kakiemon porcelain. There is raised white relief with shells, flowers and arabesque decoration. This Meissen dinner service...Category
Vintage 1950s German Chinese Export Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of 12 Meissen Luncheon Plates Each Painted with a Different Flower BouquetBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAThis is a fabulous set of twelve Meissen luncheon or dessert plates. Each of these Meissen plates are beautifully painted with a different large central flower bouquet. The artwork o...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Romantic Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of Eight Minton Plates Each Beautifully Hand Painted With a Different SceneBy MintonLocated in Boston, MALook at the gorgeous hand painted scenes on this set of English Minton luncheon or dessert plates. The miniature paintings of the wonderful landscapes are painted by an extremely tal...Category
Antique 1880s English Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of 16 19th Century Coalport Plates Each Hand-Painted with Magnificent ScenesBy Coalport PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAI want to offer you this rare exquisite set of sixteen Coalport plates Each plate is painted with beautiful scenery of different castles, churches, palaces, lochs, valleys and bridge...Category
Antique 1870s English Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of 4 Japanese Koransha TeacupsBy KoranshaLocated in Los Angeles, CAElegant set of 4 Koransha tea cups, from Lindfield series, with delicately hand drawn spring orchids / Made in Japan in 2000s Original mark at the base Diameter 3.5 inches, height 2 ...Category
20th Century Japanese Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
$900 / set - Presumably Meissen Blue Onion Sifter in Hand-Painted Porcelain, Approx. 1900Located in Copenhagen, DKPresumably Meissen blue onion sifter in hand-painted porcelain with a wooden handle. Approx. 1900. Measures: 32 x 7 cm (incl. Handle). In excellent condition. Unstamped.Category
Antique Early 1900s German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- 12 Pc Antique Meissen B-Form Teacups & Saucers Floral Crossed Sword Tea Set B154By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Dayton, OHTwelve piece set of antique Meissen China. Porcelain, blue swords marks 1st and 2nd choice, form number B-154, B-form purple with scattered flowe...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Baroque Tea Sets
MaterialsPorcelain
- 4 Antique Meissen Porcelain Footed Frauenkopf Salt Cellars with Puce FlowersBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Philadelphia, PAA very fine set of 4 antique Meissen porcelain salt cellars. Modelled after salts originally designed for the Sulkowski service by Johann Frie...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Minton Dessert Service with Butterflies and Flowers and Gold RimsBy MintonLocated in Pembroke, MAExtraordinary porcelain dessert service attributed to Minton comprising 23 pieces with turquoise ground, hand painted butterflies, flowers and floral garlands. The perimeters and inside diameters of the plates are beaded and gilded. The service includes three tall compotes...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair Meissen Blue Onion Coffee PotsBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Lambertville, NJPair Meissen blue onion coffee pots 9" and 11" tall. Age appropriate wear with very minor flea bites to the finial flowers.Category
20th Century European Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
$850 / set