Arts of Meissen porcelain @ David Brower Antiques

An exhibition dedicated to some of the most impressive and important works of 19^th century Meissen porcelain on the market today takes place at specialist dealers, David Brower Antiques, 113 Kensington Church Street, London W8 7LN.  The exhibition will be held from 3^rd June to 30th June 2010, with a preview event on the 2^nd June heralding Meissen’s 300^th anniversary.  It coincides with international celebrations and is also conveniently timed with the major art and antiques fairs in London’s busiest month.

It is due to the ruthless desires of Augustus the Strong and his imprisonment of alchemist Johann Friedrich Boettger (1682 -1719) at Albrechtsberg Castle, that the formula for making porcelain was discovered. After the failed promises of his ability to create gold, his accomplishments, firstly in red stoneware and then the discovery of porcelain or “white gold” as it was termed, lead to the establishment of the Meissen manufactory in 1710.

Meissen Porcelain soon became a symbol of wealth and status and in the 19^th century the factory earned numerous Royal commissions as well as many medals at World Exhibitions for its merits.  This exhibition concentrates on the 19^th century, a period that David Brower considers to be a golden age of Meissen porcelain production, when old styles were revisited and renewed and new ideas and skills, made possible by technical developments, flourished. This innovation and design ensured that the factory’s output was at its finest. 

Of particular importance is an impressive pair of topographical vases by Ernst Leuteritz, they are one of the most important and valuable works of 19^th Century Meissen porcelain available on the market today. Standing at 61cms high and produced in 1870, the vases show two different scenes of Dresden rendered in exquisite detail, a view of Pilnitz and a view of Schloss Weesenstein.  Born in 1818, Ernst Leuteritz joined the factory in 1836 as an apprentice and by 1843 he was engaged as a modeller. He first created the design for these vases in 1856 and in 1862 they were selected as one of the key pieces at the World Exhibition held in London.

Vases of this scale and detail are particularly rare as they were only made for exhibition or special commission.  One reason for this is that large objects of this nature were extremely difficult to make and decorate.  Minor imperfections in the structure of the piece or faults in the decoration and glaze were unforgiving, often causing failure during the firing processes.  These monumental pieces are a testament to the experience and skills of the Meissen craftsmen.

Also of interest is a vase originally designed by Leuteritz, but subsequently decorated by workers at the factory to present to him on his retirement in 1886.The vase depicts a scene of Albrechtsberg Castle to one side and on the other is his house with the factory in the distance. It is a spectacular piece of historical note and is 39cms tall.

The Rose Vase was created by renowned watercolour and still life flower painting specialist Julius Eduard Braunsdorf (1841-1922). He was first employed at the Meissen factory in 1858 applying a highly distinctive style of flower painting, elegantly reflecting nature with a delightfully soft execution.  His work captures the essence of the Jugendstil or Art Nouveau period and in 1903 his botanical illustrations were published in the prestigious “Journal des Roses”. Works by Braunsdorf were sought after and exhibited in the London Exhibition of 1862, but objects of this scale (70cm tall) and quality are extremely rare.   The museum at Meissen has a smaller version of the vase.

First produced in 1732 by Johann Joachim Kaendler (1706–1775) for Augustus II’s “Japanisches Palais”, the Padua Cockerel was made as part of the substantial order of animal figures that can be seen today in the Zwinger Museum, just along the Elbe River in Dresden.  Porcelain manufacture, still very much in its infancy, meant that the original figures produced had many firing cracks and imperfections where the natural weaknesses gave way to the strains of the size of these vast porcelain sculptures.  The 19^th century example in this exhibition is a marvel of production at the hands of the Meissen craftsmen and stands at a dramatic 77cm high.

A pastoral group of gardeners beneath a tree by Acier was first modelled in 1772, by Michel Victor Acier (1736–1799) who was employed at the Meissen factory from 1764 to 1779.  This group of gardeners under a tree typifies the excellence in the artistry that Meissen was producing towards the latter end of the 19^th century, a quality that has been unsurpassed. The group measures 27cm and was produced in c.1890.

A finely detailed Meissen plaque depicting Schloss Albrechtsberg at Meissen.  It depicts the site where the story of Meissen porcelain begins.  Plaques like this are rarely seen and were created from around 1880 under Ludwig Sturm’s (1844-1926) direction. He employed the services of the artist Frenzel for principally copying the paintings in the Dresden Art Gallery.

A highly decorative Floral Encrusted plate is applied with finely modelled flowers and fruit, so delicate that they were often prone to collapse in the kiln. This version, c.1860 is in exceptional condition and measures 26cm in diameter.

Of importance is a pair of Meissen Parrots made in 1880.  Originally designed by Kaendler in 1765 for the Regent Prince Xavier, Elector of Saxony; they were created to commemorate the year of his visit to the Meissen factory.  Prince Xavier assumed sovereignty after the death of his brother in 1763 until his nephew Successor Friedrich August III came of age.

In addition to these fine pieces are other rare and unusual items, including animals and birds, an impressive array of vases, mostly made for Exhibitions or special order, fine quality figures and groups including the famous nodding pagoda figures.  Also of note is a large wall mirror, clocks and candelabras.

David Brower Antiques, 113 Kensington Church Street London W8 7LN. T: +44 (0)20 7221 4155 - W: www.davidbrower-antiques.com - E: david@davidbrower-antiques.com