Features of Meissen Porcelain

You do not need to be a collector, just be considered an educated and cultured person to imagine what Meissen porcelain is. If you have not heard this word before, but started to seriously become interested in cookware, then you can’t do without familiarizing yourself with this brand.

Meissen porcelain has been produced for three hundred years - this is impressive and creates considerable excitement near German products. Porcelain products are considered the property of Germany: they are exhibited in the most famous museums in the world, they also become the long-awaited lots of private auctions. This porcelain is admired and praised by him, trying to unravel the secret of production. The lucky ones can buy porcelain in their collection.

It all started in the city of Meissen (formerly Meissen) by the famous Elbe River. The city is ancient, it is more than 1000 years old. A landmark event for the city was the construction of the Albrechtsburg Castle in the 15th century. When the King of Saxony Augustus the Strong ascended the throne, the castle underwent reconstruction. Masters began to break through the ceilings of the palace, put stoves, and in the halls began to make wooden partitions. For a while, the castle resembled a large building with drawers, tubs and various tools: as if the ground was growing for the appearance of porcelain.

In 1710 a truly grandiose event took place: porcelain was invented in Europe, but we cannot find out how exactly this happened. The recipe for European porcelain is still classified. Why he basically appeared, can be assumed. Augustus Strong was a very ambitious ruler, he clearly monitored the economic benefits of various objects, and he was not happy that the Albrechtsburg castle was not used to its full potential.

Finally, the famous Chinese porcelain was too expensive, and the thoughts of creating his own, no less beautiful, probably seriously bothered Augustus the Strong. And he found a man who was able to solve the Chinese secret of production (well, or came close to this). So, the German alchemist Friedrich Bettger managed to become a master who performed a small miracle - it was he who came up with solid European porcelain.

The material itself began to be produced in the castle, over time, workshops were built specifically for production purposes, and "white gold" is still being produced in these workshops. It was a breakthrough, Meissen became known throughout Europe. In the suburbs of the city there was a place where the main component for creating porcelain was found. A small mine was built in this place, and kaolin was mined in it exclusively for the Meissen manufactory. So called clay of the purest white color, refractory and transparent. It organizes excellent plastic during the manufacturing process and serves as ideal porcelain material.

Not one factory has tried (and is trying) to unravel the formula of Meissen porcelain. What exactly happens with kaolin, quartz and feldspar during production, so far only the elite know. It is not known in what proportions the components are mixed, how they are stored. This is a big secret that allows the famous brand for several centuries to be considered the flagship of world porcelain production. Although more than once the most noble historical manipulations related to the secret were performed.

The creator of porcelain did not tell the recipe to anyone, only a certain stage was known to the workers. And when Bettger died, one of his associates, the keeper of the secret, simply fled to Vienna and wanted to develop his manufactory there. True, Augustus the Strong ensured that the traitor was returned to his homeland.

It is not easy to buy genuine Meissen porcelain, the product must have a mark. Fraudsters take advantage of this and put fake brand names on products. It is easy to find samples of true signs and see how they changed over the years, and what are their features. Often one cannot do without an expert opinion: he will appreciate the full quality of the mark, as well as the quality of the decoration.

Since 1948, the manufacturer puts annual signs, and these annual marks can also be considered a cipher of authenticity. At the factory, this was taken more than seriously: the strictest quality control made it possible to prevent defects in production. If a product was noted to be defective, it was defective or sold to handicraftsmen as a second-rate product.

But, by the way, such home-made paintings are highly valued: they are considered more expensive than factory ones, since they are exclusive and preserve all the features of the author’s style. In this case, the mark was amended: if the case was damaged, one line was put, two or three - if the decor was damaged.

As you know, porcelain was invented in China. For this reason, the first decades of Meissen porcelain were painted with oriental motifs. Recognizable herons in the reeds, fishermen, ornaments, flowers - that was what appeared in the first works. Johann Gregorius Gerold preferred to work in the Japanese style "kakiemon". Japanese artists were restrained in color solutions, but Herold learned how to get colors in a new way, and thanks to this skill the color scheme expanded to hundreds of shades.

In 1731, Johann Joachim Kendler came to porcelain. And to this day, he is considered the main sculptor of the famous enterprise.His birthday is celebrated today: for example, in 2006 they celebrated 300 years since the birth of the legendary artist. The creator was a genius of his time: he created at least 1000 miniature sculptures, he even managed to sculpt life-size figures of birds.

He had many imitators, he became a classic of this artistic direction: he invented the bends of pens in tureens, sophisticated floristic decorations, graceful angels and poured fruit became examples, ideals of this art. Styles changed, fashion abruptly turned to the side, but nothing affected the magnificence of bouquets and fruit scattering on Meissen dishes.

Following Kendler, Michel-Victor Asier continued the tradition of porcelain luxury. His arrival affected production: in fashion at that time there was white unglazed porcelain - biscuit. It became an ideal canvas for figurines on mythological subjects. It is interesting that art historians still argue about Asya: some claim that he was the best, that he created genuine Meissen porcelain, others say no, he can not compare with Kendler, while Asya the quality of the goods decreased.

Meissen porcelain history also includes such names as Hermann Seilinger, Hugo Stein, William Baring, Otto Edward Voight. It is impossible not to mention Paul Scheurich, basically he worked in the Art Deco style, and it was this master who created the famous series "Russian Ballet", which arose in connection with the legendary performances of Diaghilev's ballet in Berlin. Styles changed, but rococo remained at the core.

Masterpieces from Meissen - this is an impeccable quality control, the use of various mixtures, the creation of a wide range of products.

The master’s mixture is prepared in several stages. First, they combine the ingredients strictly according to the recipe, then they grind everything very well, add a little water and mix until smooth. Using a filter press, excess moisture is squeezed out.

Consider the features of production.

• To this day, potters take part in the creation of Meissen masterpieces, they drive the potter's wheel with their feet. Wet palms of the master grab the workpiece, which rotates on a circle, the surface is cleared to uniformity. After that, the master can manually change the shape of the product.
• Next, the workpiece is placed in a rotating gypsum form: with a sponge, the master presses on the soft inner walls of the workpiece, so the relief and matrix structure are transferred to it. Using this technique, cups, bowls, teapots, jugs and other utensils are created.
• After half an hour, the product is removed from the gypsum matrix. The form is divided into several segments, which allows you to remove it without deformation of the product. For the matrix, gypsum is used, which absorbs part of the moisture, which increases the coefficient of strength and reliability of the product.
• Flat dishes are made differently. The master cuts the clay layer to size, it is placed on top of the mold. In order for the product to gain external contours, a second form is applied from above (it is also responsible for the wall thickness). Then, on the back of the product, the batch number is beaten.
• Details of small items are classically molded, but large handles are molded. Handles are subsequently glued with a liquid solution - a slip.

Many of the nuances of creating dishes and figurines are known to modern masters, but not all. Keeping secrets and loyalty to them allows Meissen brand to further develop, because its tea pairs, vases, tureens and plates do not need advertising.

Forged porcelain from Meissen from the very beginning of its existence.In 1772, they came up with a trademark - two crossed swords, it changed over the years, but the essence remained the same. Today, under the swords there is the inscription Meissen, which means that such a product was made later than 1974.

Interestingly, the fakes are so skillful that the average buyer is not able to figure out the authenticity of the product. Many experts claim that to say for sure whether you bought real antiques or a beautiful fake can only representatives of the manufactory itself. Not everyone succeeds in getting such an expert assessment, but if you buy something that is positioned as old Meissen porcelain, you will certainly get the help of specialists.

The thing is fragile, requiring careful care. And the older the product, the owner treats it with great trepidation. Even if you bought modern dishes or a vase of a famous brand, you will need to learn how to take good care of it.

• Porcelain can be washed only by hand, you can not do it on weight, under running water. Put the product in a plastic container, spread a soft towel at the bottom.
• Water should be warm, but not hot. All products with handles need to be held by the case, carefully supporting from below.
• Household chemicals should be completely abandoned. The maximum you can afford is a neutral baby soap. In the presence of stains and cloudy spots, you can drop a little liquid ammonia into the water.
• Outside, porcelain is sometimes wiped with a light solution of hydrogen peroxide. Inside, porcelain can be wiped with diluted tooth powder.
• Brushes, sponges and washcloths are not used, only soft rags can participate in the porcelain washing process. Dummies are cleaned with a thin brush for baby bottles.
• Porcelain products do not leave in water for a long time - sometimes because of this, cracks form on the enamel. Do not rub dishes when washing.

In 2010, the world-famous German manufactory celebrated its 300th anniversary. On the occasion of the jubilee, the masters made replicas of the products that glorified it - the “Swan” service, the “Orchestra of the Apes” and other sculptures. They were sold for very big money, although Meissen porcelain was never cheap.

About the history of Meissen porcelain, see the video below.