Meissen - White Porcelain Beginnings (1708-20) Photos

In Jan. 1708, Johann Friedrich Böttger, building upon years-long experiments of Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, fired the first European porcelain made with kaolin. For the first several years, the Elector's factory located in a castle in Meissen produced only the Böttger red stoneware & only white porcelain, due to the difficulty of firing colors. This early white porcelain was sometimes decorated with sculpted leaves & branches or with gold leaf designs followed by basic colors.

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Early attempts by Böttger at white porcelain were teapots with molded flowers, but without color so to evade difficulties in the kiln at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Meissen three legged bouillon pot by George Funcke at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Porcelain chocolate beaker by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Porcelain molded teapot by Böttger for Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at National Museum of Wales. Cardiff, Wales.
Early attempts by Böttger at white porcelain (1713) were teapots with molded flowers, but without color so to evade difficulties in the kiln at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Meissen three legged bouillon pot (c1715) by George Funcke at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Porcelain chocolate beaker (c1718-21) by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Porcelain molded teapot (1715-20) by Böttger for Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at National Museum of Wales. Cardiff, Wales.
Porcelain teapot in shape of man holding dolphin spout by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at National Museum of Wales. Cardiff, Wales.Porcelain teapot in shape of old man by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Meissen porcelain chocolate cup with gold decor at Bamberg Old Town Hall Museum of Faience & Porcelain. Bamberg, Germany.Meissen porcelain bowl with applied flower & leaves at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.
Porcelain teapot in shape of man holding dolphin spout (c1720) by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at National Museum of Wales. Cardiff, Wales.Porcelain teapot in shape of old man (c1719-20) by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Meissen porcelain chocolate cup with gold decor (c1720) at Bamberg Old Town Hall Museum of Faience & Porcelain. Bamberg, Germany.Meissen porcelain bowl with applied flower & leaves (c1720-5) at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.
Meissen porcelain peach-shaped wine pot with applied leaves & imaginary painted Chinese scene at Gardiner Museum. Toronto, ON.Meissen porcelain teapot with applied rose branches painted in gold & enamel colors at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Teapot & bowl with applied relief by Johann Gregorius Höroldt at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Porcelain teapots in blue & gold made by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at National Museum of Wales. Cardiff, Wales.
Meissen porcelain peach-shaped wine pot with applied leaves & imaginary painted Chinese scene (c1725) at Gardiner Museum. Toronto, ON.Meissen porcelain teapot with applied rose branches painted in gold & enamel colors at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Teapot & bowl with applied relief (c1725) by Johann Gregorius Höroldt at Meissen porcelain museum at Lustheim Palace. Munich, Germany.Porcelain teapots in blue & gold (1735-40) made by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at National Museum of Wales. Cardiff, Wales.
Porcelain teapot by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.


Porcelain teapot (c1725-30) by Meissen Porcelain Manuf. of Germany at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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