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German Porcelain

Collection Info
German Porcelain

Hard-paste porcelain was first produced commercially in Europe at Meissen, where a manufactory was established in 1710 by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. Despite ardent attempts to prevent the arcanum (the secrets of porcelain production) from spreading, it proved impossible. Thanks to the poaching of expertise and personnel, a small private enterprise was established in 1718 in Vienna by Du Paquier. However, Meissen flourished and dominated the production of hard-paste porcelain in Europe until the late 1750s, when Saxony was defeated during the Seven Years War.

In 1745 the arcanum was stolen from Vienna. Porcelain manufactories were consequently established all over the German States and throughout Europe. Most were patronised by local princes and aristocrats, as it became highly fashionable to own a porcelain manufactory. Many of these failed by the end of the eighteenth century, but a few continue to flourish today.

The Gardiner Museum has outstanding holdings of Meissen porcelain given by George and Helen Gardiner. These were substantially expanded by the collection of Dr. Hans Syz, which includes examples from every German porcelain manufactory of the second half of the eighteenth century.

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Figure of St. Jerome and a Lion
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1764-1766
Object number: G96.5.150
Sauceboat
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.151
Cup and saucer with Meissen style harbour scenes
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.152a-b
Cup and saucer with ornithological design
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765-1775
Object number: G96.5.153a-b
Sugar bowl with ornithological design
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.154a-b
Cup and saucer with ornithological design
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.155a-b
Soup Plate
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.156
Cup and saucer with Neoclassical pattern
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.157a-b
Soup Plate
Artist / Maker: Ansbach Porcelain Manufactory
c.1775-1780
Object number: G96.5.158
Photographer: Toni Hafkenscheid
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
1756-1759
Object number: G10.3.21.1a-b & .2a-b
Teapot
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1760-1770
Object number: G83.1.693.1-2
Box in the form of a bird's nest
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G83.1.694.1-2
Milk Jug with chinoiseries after Jean-Baptiste Pillement (1728–1808)
Artist / Maker: Jean-Baptiste Pillement
c.1772
Object number: G83.1.695
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Johann Wilhelm Lanz
c.1755-1760
Object number: G83.1.876
Hanswurst
Artist / Maker: Johann Wilhelm Lanz
c.1755-1760
Object number: G83.1.877
“Provider” for the Monastery
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1759
Object number: G83.1.1054.1-.2
Pulcinella
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1755-1760
Object number: G96.5.172
Figure of a male vendor
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1759-1762
Object number: G96.5.173
Figure in Chinese costume
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.174
Allegories of Sight, Touch and Taste- "Allegory of Sight"
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1770-1775
Object number: G96.5.175
Allegories of Sight, Touch and Taste- "Allegory of Touch"
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1770-75
Object number: G96.5.176
Allegories of Sight, Touch and Taste- "Allegory of Taste"
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1770-75
Object number: G96.5.177
Gardener
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.178
Bowl with ornithological pattern
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1755-1761
Object number: G96.5.179