Art Nouveau Figure Group 'Ice-Scaters', by Alfred Koenig, Meissen Germany, 1910
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Width: 4.34 in (11 cm)Depth: 5.91 in (15 cm)
- Style:Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1910-1919
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1910
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1014437558872
Meissen Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain (Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen) is one of the preeminent porcelain factories in Europe and was the first to produce true porcelain outside of Asia. It was established in 1710 under the auspices of King Augustus II “the Strong” of Saxony-Poland (1670–1733), a keen collector of Asian ceramics, particularly Ming porcelain.
In pursuing his passion, which he termed his “maladie de porcelaine,” Augustus spent vast sums, amassing some 20,000 pieces of Japanese and Chinese ceramics. These, along with examples of early Meissen, comprise the Porzellansammlung, or porcelain collection, of the Zwinger Palace, in Dresden.
The king was determined, however, to free the European market from its dependence on Asian imports and to give European artisans the freedom to create their own porcelain designs. To this end, he charged the scientist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and aspiring alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger with the task of using local materials to produce true, hard-paste porcelain (as opposed to the soft-paste variety European ceramists in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain had been producing since the late Renaissance). In 1709, the pair succeeded in doing just that, employing kaolin, or “china clay.” A year later, the Meissen factory was born.
In its first decades, Meissen mostly looked to Asian models, producing wares based on Japanese Kakiemon ceramics and pieces with Chinese-inflected decorations called chinoiserie. During the 1720s its painters drew inspiration from the works of Watteau, and the scenes of courtly life, fruits and flowers that adorned fashionable textiles and wallpaper. It was in this period that Meissen introduced its famous cobalt-blue crossed swords logo — derived from the arms of the Elector of Saxony as Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire — to distinguish its products from those of competing factories that were beginning to spring up around Europe.
By the 1730s, Meissen’s modelers and decorators had mastered the style of Asian ceramics, and Augustus encouraged them to develop a new, original aesthetic. The factory’s director, Count Heinrich von Brühl, used Johann Wilhelm Weinmann’s botanical drawings as the basis for a new line of wares with European-style surface decoration. The Blue Onion pattern (Zwiebelmuster), first produced in 1739, melded Asian and European influences, closely following patterns used in Chinese underglaze-blue porcelain, but replacing exotic flora and fruits with Western varieties (likely peaches and pomegranates, not onions) along with peonies and asters.
During the same period, head modeler Joachim Kändler (1706–75) began crafting delicate porcelain figures derived from the Italian commedia dell’arte. Often used as centerpieces on banquet tables and decorated to reflect the latest fashions in courtly dress for men and women, these figurines were popular in their day, and are still considered among Meissen’s most iconic creations. Kändler also created the Swan Service, which, with its complex low-relief surface design and minimal decoration is considered a masterpiece of Baroque ceramics.
The rise of Neoclassicism in the latter half of the 18th century forced Meissen to change artistic direction and begin producing monumental vases, clocks, chandeliers and candelabra. In the 20th century, Meissen added to its 18th-century repertoire decidedly modern designs, including ones in the Art Nouveau style. The 1920s saw the introduction of numerous animal figures, such as the popular sea otter (Fischotter), which graced an East German postage stamp in the 1960s. Starting in 1933, artistic freedom was limited at the factory under the Nazi regime, and after World War II, when the region became part of East Germany, it struggled to reconcile its elite past with the values of the Communist government. In 1969, however, new artistic director Karl Petermann reintroduced the early designs and fostered a new degree of artistic license. Meissen became one of the few companies to prosper in East Germany.
Owned by the State of Saxony since reunification, in 1990, Meissen continues to produce its classic designs together with new ones developed collaboratively with artists from all over the world. In addition, through its artCAMPUS program, the factory has invited distinguished ceramic artists, such as Chris Antemann and Arlene Shechet, to work in its studios in collaboration with its skilled modelers and painters. The resulting works of contemporary sculpture are inspired by Meissen’s rich and complex legacy.
Find a collection of authentic Meissen Porcelain on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Vienna, Austria
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Art Nouveau Children Group 'Two Girls', by A. Koenig, Meissen Germany, ca 1940By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain figure group: Two barefoot girls in summer clothes, the older one in a green-brown skirt and white long-sleeved shirt with blue stripes, her hair pinned up in two side bunches, the younger child in a red-purple dress sitting on the ground, holding her by the arm and pulling her up. The model is part of a series of beach motifs by Alfred König. Based on a white round base with a relief structure on the side and a gold rim. Very lifelike and loving representation of the characters and the details Designer: ALFRED KÖNIG (1871 - 1940) studied at the art academy in Dresden, since 1897 he worked in the Meissen manufactory as a designer and modeler. The artist specialized in the design of human figures in various variations, such as genre figures, children, athletes, soldiers etc. Model B 290...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Children Group 'Two Girls', by A. Koenig, Meissen Germany, ca 1912By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATExtremely rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain group: Two barefoot girls in summer clothes, the older one in a striped skirt and white and blue long-slee...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Children Group Girl With Child A. Koenig, Meissen Germany, c 1905By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain figure group: Girl and child in clothing from around 1900, the girl in a blue patterned long-sleeved dress with a white apron kneeling on the ...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Children Group 'Girl with Child', A. Koenig, Meissen Germany, c 1905By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATExtremely rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain group: Girl and child in clothes from around 1900, the girl in a blue, polka-dot long-sleeved dress with a white apron kneeling on the fl...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Art Nouveau Figurine Pair Snowball Thrower & Girl, A. Koenig, c 1910By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATVery charming Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain figurines: Boy in dark blue jacket, under it a brown vest, striped pants and lace-up shoes, on his head a green cap with a wide brim, a white scarf around his neck, with his right arm reaching far back to throw a snowball at the girl, with his left hand holding more prepared snowballs to his chest. The boy is supported from behind by a small toboggan and is based on round snow base. The girl in purple flowered dress...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Art Nouveau Figurine Pair Boy & Girl With Hoops, A. Koenig, c 1910By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain figurines: Two children with colorful hoops: Standing boy in sailor dress, holding the hoop with both hands behind him standing on the ground,...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Summer and Fall Figural GroupBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New Orleans, LAThis beautiful Meissen Porcelain figure entitled Summer and Fall is part of the company's beloved Seasons series. The putti rest upon a rocaille-formed base holding representations o...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Other Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique German porcelain group of Venus with Cupid by MeissenBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GBAntique German porcelain group of Venus with Cupid by Meissen German, c. 1750 Height 20.5cm, width 11cm, depth 12cm This charming Meissen porce...Category
Antique Mid-18th Century German Rococo Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Figural Group with a Musician Playing the DrumsBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Los Angeles, CAA lovely 19th century German Meissen porcelain figural group of a standing lady appealing to a standing gentleman and a musician sitting by their feet playing the drums. Late 19th century. Blue Meissen crossed sword...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Revelry GroupsBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New Orleans, LAThis charming pair of Meissen porcelain figures celebrates the essence of Revelry. First modeled by the renowned Johann Joachim Kändler on bases by Peter Reinicke, circa 1767, these ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Rococo Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique German Hand Painted Porcelain Maiden Figure, Manner of Meissen, c1900By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Big Flats, NYAn antique German porcelain Meissen School figure depicts hand painted maiden in countryside setting, signed on base as photographed, circa 1900 Measures: 12" H x 4.5" W x 4.5" D. ...Category
20th Century German Victorian Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Fine Meissen Porcelain Figure of a Rabbit after a Model by J. J. KandlerBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NYA fine Meissen Porcelain rabbit figure, after a model by J.J. Kandler; with blue double-crossed swords underglaze mark including a blue dot between swords, Indicative of the Pfeiffer...Category
Vintage 1920s German Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain