Rating and value of Meissen porcelain: cookies, vases, services...

If you own one or more objects by the Meissen manufacture, or after, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your piece, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of Meissen porcelain

Meissen porcelain is known and appreciated throughout Europe. It was one of the first royal porcelain factories in Germany, founded by Augustus the Strong. Today, the price of certain pieces continues to rise under auctioneers' gavels.

Sculpted porcelain groups and pieces with enamels are particularly prized, especially by French and German buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €500,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Meissen porcelains.

In 2018, a Meissen porcelain service, with painted enamels and gilding, dating from the 18th century sold for €68,750, while it was estimated at between €15,000 and €20,000.

Order of value ranging from a simple porcelain to the most prestigious

Style and technique of Meissen porcelain  

The style and technique of Meissen porcelain has been distinguished from the outset by exceptional mastery, based on the discovery of kaolin near the town.

Inspired by the porcelain imported from the Orient, mainly from China and Japan, the factory adopted precise methods that enabled it to produce hard porcelain, surpassing contemporary European production.

The technique used at Meissen is based on the use of this pure kaolin, mixed with specific clays, creating a resistant paste that can be shaped into a variety of forms.

The Meissen craftsmen, true masters in the art of ceramics, work with meticulous precision, giving rise to elegantly shaped pieces, often decorated with floral motifs or inspired by Asian art.

High-temperature firing, essential for obtaining the strength and translucency of hard porcelain, is carried out in specially designed kilns.

Once fired, the pieces are meticulously hand-painted by specialized artists, using the finest pigments.

This decorating process, unique to Meissen, is renowned for its vivid colors and attention to detail. As a result, every piece from the factory embodies the perfect balance between technique and aesthetics, making a lasting mark on the history of European porcelain.

History of Meissen porcelain

The Meissen factory, often referred to as the eldest daughter of European porcelain, marks a major turning point in the history of the decorative arts in Europe.

Founded in 1710 thanks to the ambition of Augustus the Strong, Prince-Elector of Saxony, it was the fruit of a burning desire to rival the porcelains of the Orient, then considered the pinnacle of luxury and refinement.

The quest to master this art began in 1709, when a chemist by the name of Friedrich Böttger developed a formula for producing hard porcelain.

This discovery was no accident, but the result of a concerted effort between Auguste le Fort and Böttger, both driven by the desire to make Europe, and Saxony in particular, the leading center of hard porcelain production.

The key to this feat lay in the deposits of kaolin, discovered near Meissen. This white clay, hitherto used as a whitening agent for wigs, proved to be the essential element for reproducing the coveted hard porcelain.

Böttger, testing various substances to imitate porcelains imported from the Far East, discovered that kaolin, when mixed with other materials and fired at high temperature, produced a fine, resistant paste comparable to precious Chinese porcelain.

This revolutionary discovery gave Saxony a considerable advantage over the rest of Europe, particularly France, where the Sèvres manufactory would take over 65 years to unlock the secret of hard porcelain.

From its foundation, the Meissen manufactory benefited from the royal privilege, granted by Augustus the Strong, which thus ensured this new industry valuable protection and monopoly. This privilege, combined with the richness of the kaolin deposits, guaranteed Saxony total control over hard porcelain production.

Augustus the Strong, a visionary, not only protected this strategic resource; he also imported porcelain from the Orient, mainly from China and Japan, in order to understand its production techniques.

These pieces, brought by the East India Company, deeply inspired Meissen's first craftsmen, who strove to reproduce the finesse and beauty of Asian porcelains.

The first creations of the Meissen manufactory reflect this oriental influence, both in motifs and forms. However, the manufactory soon developed its own style, characterized by hand-painted decorations, often inspired by European nature.

Delicate flowers, exotic birds, and later mythological scenes adorn the pieces coming out of the Meissen kilns. The technique of painting on porcelain, requiring great dexterity, became one of the factory's distinguishing features.

The production of hard porcelain in Meissen was not only a technical feat, it was also a symbol of power and prestige. The royal courts of Europe vied for Meissen pieces, which quickly became synonymous with luxury and elegance.

This dazzling success prompted many other manufactures to attempt to crack the hard-paste porcelain secret, but none were able to rival Meissen for several decades.

It wasn't until 1774 that the Royal Manufactory of Sèvres, after many years of research, finally succeeded in producing hard porcelain, marking the end of Saxon hegemony in this field.

Thus, the Royal Manufactory of Meissen, the eldest daughter of European porcelain, not only initiated a new era in the history of the decorative arts, but also set a standard of excellence that would profoundly influence porcelain production in Europe for centuries.

Focus on the Meissen porcelain leopard (20th century)

This elegant 20th-century Meissen porcelain sculpture depicts a seated leopard with remarkable finesse.

Faithful to the manufactory's tradition, the work is distinguished by meticulous precision in the reproduction of detail, both in the sinuous lines of the feline body and in the treatment of its spotted coat.

The leopard, captured in an attentive posture, seems ready to pounce, reflecting the technical mastery of the Meissen craftsmen, able to render the tension and elegance of the animal.

The coat motifs are meticulously hand-painted, with subtle nuances in shades of yellow, brown and black, giving the leopard an allure that is both majestic and realistic.

This type of sculpture testifies to the factory's adaptation to twentieth-century tastes, while retaining its centuries-old expertise in fine, artistic porcelain.

Michel Victor Acier, French sculptor in Meissen

The price of Meissen porcelain

Meissen porcelain, despite historical competition with the prestigious Sèvres porcelain, retains a prime position on the auction market.

The price varies mainly according to the state of conservation of the pieces, their age and, in some cases, the signature of an artist who contributed to their creation. Collectors particularly appreciate antique pieces, whose patterns and finesse testify to the unique expertise of the manufactory.

However, prices realized at auction are often lower than those for Sèvres porcelain (vases, biscuits...), despite continued interest from buyers.

Specialized collectors carefully seek out well-preserved works, knowing that the slightest imperfection can affect a piece's value.

Whether figurines, tea sets or vases, Meissen porcelain continues to seduce with its rich history and refined aesthetic, despite a slightly lower rating than other major European manufactures.

Recognizing a piece from the Meissen manufactory

Pieces produced by the Meissen manufactory are generally signed and hallmarked. They can be identified by the two crossed swords on the back of the porcelain piece. Here's an example:

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a Meissen porcelain work or one after it, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website.

A member of our team, made up of experts and licensed auctioneers, will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, not forgetting to pass on ad hoc information about it.

If you are considering selling your work, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.