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

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

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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 the auctioneer's hammer.

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 porcelain.

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 from simple porcelain to the most prestigious

Style and technique of Meissen porcelain  

From the outset, the style and technique of Meissen porcelain were characterized by exceptional mastery, based on the discovery of kaolin near the town.

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

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

Meissen craftsmen, true masters in the art of ceramics, work with meticulous precision, creating 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 decoration process, unique to Meissen, is renowned for its vivid colors and attention to detail. As a result, each 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 Auguste le Fort, Prince-Elector of Saxony, it was the fruit of a burning desire to rival porcelain from the Orient, then considered the height 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 kaolin deposits discovered near Meissen. This white clay, previously used as a whitening agent for wigs, turned out to be the essential element for reproducing the coveted hard porcelain.

Böttger, testing various substances to imitate porcelain 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 factory took over 65 years to unlock the secret of hard porcelain.

As soon as it was founded, the Meissen factory benefited from a royal privilege, granted by Augustus the Strong, which gave this new industry valuable protection and a monopoly. This privilege, combined with the richness of the kaolin deposits, guaranteed Saxony total control over hard porcelain production.

The visionary Auguste le Fort not only protected this strategic resource, he also imported porcelain from the Orient, mainly from China and Japan, in order to gain an understanding of production techniques.

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

The first creations from the Meissen manufactory reflect this oriental influence in both design and form. 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 distinguishing features of the factory.

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 competed for Meissen pieces, which quickly became synonymous with luxury and elegance.

This dazzling success prompted many other manufacturers to try their hand at the secret of hard porcelain, but none was able to rival Meissen for several decades.

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

In this way, the Royal Meissen Manufactory, 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 to come.

Focus on the leopard in Meissen porcelain (20th century)

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

True to the Manufacture'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 mottled coat.

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

The patterns on the dress are meticulously hand-painted, with subtle nuances in shades of yellow, brown and black, giving the leopard a look that's both majestic and realistic.

This type of sculpture testifies to the factory's adaptation to 20th-century tastes, while preserving its centuries-old expertise in fine, artistic porcelain.

Michel Victor Acier, French sculptor in Meissen

The value of Meissen porcelain

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

Its value varies according to the state of preservation 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, cookies, etc.), despite continuing buyer interest.

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 price than other major European manufactures.

Recognizing a piece from the Meissen manufactory

Pieces produced by the Meissen factory 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 piece of Meissen porcelain or one after it, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you're thinking of selling your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking market trends into account.