Meissen plate

This Meissen plate was one of many pieces brought back to USA by the mother of one of my US friends. She and her husband were stationed in Germany in the years 1945 to 1948 during the occupation period. It is a beautiful piece of china with gold highlights. Age and value unknown. I had previously only seen Meissen in museums.

Meissen porcelain or Meissen china was the first European hard-paste porcelain. It was developed starting in 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. The production of porcelain at Meissen, near Dresden, Eastern Germany started in 1710.

The Meissen factory enjoyed an artistic revival in the period 1913-1933, and they created a museum and showroom that attract more than 330,000 visitors a year. However during WW11 the factory suffered severe damage and many valued artisans were lost. The factory was later rebuilt under a Russian manager.

On the occasion of Meissen's 275th anniversary, General Manager Reinhard Fichte observed: "The production of Meissen is not just a commercial task; it also involves the active execution of a cultural function with regard to the perfection and excellence of classical Meissen." The company is now 308 years old.

The company tries to retain its balance between things past and things future, but it still makes its products one at a time. In a world that stresses mass production, they still make their products and paint them by hand.