Meissen

History

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Timeline

Meissen's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.

1. 1710 · Career

   Founded (Meissen)

   Profile text · see Sources

2. 1710 · Career

   The porcelain manufactory was established in 1710 at Albrechtsburg castle under the authority of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, following experiments by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and Johann Friedrich Böttger.

   Profile text · see Sources

3. 1720 · Career

   Johann Gregor Herold, who became director in 1720, was instrumental in developing the brilliant overglaze colors that characterized the classic phase of Meissen porcelain production.

   Profile text · see Sources

4. 1720 · Career

   The factory introduced a signature logo of crossed swords in 1720 to protect its production, which remains one of the oldest trademarks in existence.

   Profile text · see Sources

5. circa 1850 · Catalogued piece

   Meissen Porcelain Figural Mantel Clock

   Provenance: Vintage Clocks UK

6. circa 1860 · Catalogued piece

   Meissen Porcelain Floral Mantel Clock

   Provenance: Vintage Clocks UK

7. 1991 · Career

   Following centuries of royal and state patronage, the firm reorganized in 1991 and continues to operate as the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH under the ownership of the Free State of Saxony.

   Profile text · see Sources

8. 1991 · Career

   Since 1991, the company has operated as the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH and remains under the ownership of the Free State of Saxony.

   Profile text · see Sources

Current watchmaking & later fate

• Since 1991, the company has operated as the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH and remains under the ownership of the Free State of Saxony.
• The factory is widely recognized as one of the world's leading porcelain manufacturers and remains a prominent German luxury brand.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-11-03. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Key models

Senator Meissen Tourbillon

The Senator Meissen Tourbillon is a high-end watch featuring a hand-painted porcelain dial produced through a collaboration between Meissen and Glashütte Original.

Major innovations

• Meissen was the first manufacturer in Europe to successfully produce hard-paste porcelain, utilizing local deposits of china clay or kaolin.
• The factory introduced a signature logo of crossed swords in 1720 to protect its production, which remains one of the oldest trademarks in existence.

Known markings

• The iconic crossed swords logo is the registered trademark used to identify the factory's authentic porcelain productions.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

3 catalogued objects are recorded under Meissen. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

• 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Figural ClockMantel clock · 19th century
• Meissen Porcelain Figural Mantel ClockMantel clock · circa 1850
• Meissen Porcelain Floral Mantel ClockMantel clock · circa 1860

Browse all 3 in the object catalogue

Provenance

Where the 3 catalogued pieces by Meissen were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.

Auction history

Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.