Dresden Porcelain

Dresden porcelain also called Meissen porcelain or porcelain de Saxe is hard-paste or true porcelain originally produced at the factory in Meissen near Dresden in Saxony.

With the increasing importation of Chinese porcelain from the far east, the race was on to produce something similar in Europe. The secret was discovered about 1707 by Johann Friedrich Bottger and Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus who managed to produce something very similar to Chinese porcelain. It was highly prized and there was much ‘industrial espionage’ as others tried to find out the secret. Despite King August II, the Prince Elector of Saxony’s best efforts, which included locking workers within the castle walls, the secret came out in 1720 and other factories sprang up across Europe.

Dresden porcelain was produced at the factory from 1710 and it dominated the style of European porcelain up until 1756 when the French Sevres porcelain eclipsed it in popularity.

The ‘Swan Service’ is the largest most lavish porcelain dinner service ever produced. It was produced in 1736 and comprises 1,400 pieces.

The Meissen porcelain is produced to this day.