Plastic Decoration on Porcelain
Technique of volumetric ornamentation of porcelain items.
Plastic decoration on porcelain is the creation of relief elements by hand from a fine plastic paste. Masters shape flowers, figurines, garlands, and other details that are attached to the main form of the item before firing. This decoration appeared in the 18th century and became a hallmark of many European manufactories, such as Meissen and Sèvres. The finer and more complex the elements, the higher the work is valued.
Sometimes, creating a single vase required weeks of painstaking labor! Plastic decoration gave items uniqueness and enlivened their forms.
Interestingly, due to fragility, such ornaments were often lost or broken off before sale — antique pieces with complete plastic decoration are especially expensive today. Modeling remains a sign of high craftsmanship and taste in porcelain art.