Meissen Porcelain Inkwell

This Meissen porcelain inkwell has a yellow base color adorned with intricate hand-painted designs, including birds, flowers, and foliage. The inkwell’s base saucer has a scalloped edge. The inkwell has an unattached lid with a small knob on top. The designs are detailed and colorful, with a mix of blues, greens, reds, and other colors. The porcelain is marked with Meissen’s double sword mark on the underside.

Meissen porcelain holds the distinction of being the first European hard-paste porcelain. The journey began in 1708 when Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus successfully developed the method for making hard-paste porcelain. After his death, Johann Friedrich Böttger continued his work and brought this type of porcelain to the market, with the support of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony.

The production of porcelain started in 1710 at the royal factory in Meissen, near Dresden. This attracted numerous artists and artisans, establishing Meissen as one of the most famous porcelain manufacturers in the world. The iconic crossed swords mark, introduced in 1720, is one of the oldest trademarks in existence.

Meissen porcelain remained the dominant European porcelain factory and a leader in stylistic innovation until the mid-18th century when French Sèvres porcelain began to gain prominence. Despite this, Meissen has continued to be a leading factory to this day, known for its high-quality craftsmanship and artistic designs.