Meissen Porcelain

Meissen porcelain is the first hard-paste porcelain created in Europe, renowned for its high quality and distinctive painted decorations. Production began in 1710 in the German town of Meissen after years of searching for the "secret of porcelain," known only in China until then. Distinguishing features include the purity of the white body, the hardness of the paste, and rich hand-painted ornamentation, ranging from floral patterns to exotic scenes and gilded reliefs.

The Meissen mark is recognized by the famous cobalt crossed swords, which are applied to every piece. Meissen pieces were so highly valued that people sometimes offered their own estates and family jewels in exchange! Collectors often encounter amusing mishaps: once an 18th-century vase was mistaken for a later copy due to a slightly altered mark. Meissen porcelain is an inimitable symbol of refined taste of the 18th century.