Nymphenburg Manufactory in Bavaria is one of the oldest porcelain factories in Europe. It was opened in Munich in 1747 and continues to operate to this day. The characteristic feature of Nymphenburg Manufactory is the preserved manual production of tableware, vases, and figurines. Another secret to its success is the vibrant and rich palette of colors made by the factory itself. The colors are applied by hand using underglaze technique. In the factory's laboratory, they can create 50,000 combinations of pigments, which transform painted products into exquisite works of art. The history of Nymphenburg porcelain production in the 18th and 19th centuries began with the support of the Wittelsbach royal family. Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria, contributed to the establishment of new productions to strengthen the economy. The factory, with molding workshops and art studios, was founded on November 11, 1747. It took several more years to perfect production processes and prepare the first models since the owners aimed to create porcelain of the highest quality. To achieve this, they collaborated with professional sculptors and artists. Nymphenburg Manufactory invited sculptor Francesco Antonio Bustelli, who worked in the Rococo style. He created a series of porcelain figurines depicting characters from the Italian commedia dell'arte. From 1756, colored porcelain was produced on a regular basis, and the enterprise soon became commercially successful. After Bustelli, another renowned sculptor, Dominikus Aulicheck, created around a hundred figurine models. He was later succeeded by Johann Peter Melchior. By the end of the 18th century, King Ludwig I of Bavaria became an important patron for the factory. By the mid-19th century, times of prosperity were replaced by a deep economic crisis.The Nymphenburg porcelain factory was privatized and forcibly switched to technical and medical porcelain instead of artistic. Gradually, tableware also returned to the assortment: it was ordered by monasteries, hotels, hospitals, and military units. In the beginning of the 20th century, the merchant Albert Bäuml took over the production, hoping to revive German porcelain art from the 18th century. He collected a collection of antique items, starting with Bustelli figurines, and relaunched their production. The entrepreneur also invited new artists who created elegant tableware in the Art Nouveau style. Animal figurines created during this period by masters Theodor Körner and Willy Zügel are highly valued. Clients of the Nymphenburg porcelain factory include aristocrats, embassies, churches, and palaces of different countries. During World War II, the factory was used for military purposes and became a target for bombings. It was destroyed, but the most valuable models, molds, and samples of antique porcelain survived in the basement. After the war, the Bäuml family resumed production. Currently, the factory is owned by Prince Leopold of Bavaria. Like in the past, the factory collaborates with famous designers from Europe and America. Here are several artists who worked at Nymphenburg in the 21st century: Konstantin Grcic, Hella Jongerius, Kiki Smith, Joep van Lieshout, Olaf Nicolai, and Carsten Höller. Nymphenburg porcelain is highly valued among collectors. If you belong to their number, you will find a lot of interesting items on the Very Important Lot website! We regularly hold auctions where you can buy rare antiques and works of art.
