All key stages at the Meissen porcelain manufactory are carried out by hand, like this underglaze painting for example. Photo: Meissen porcelain manufactory.
The Meissen porcelain manufactory attracts visitors from all over the world and is one of Saxony’s flagship attractions. For more than 315 years, Meissen porcelain has been produced here. At Europe’s first porcelain manufactory, you can gain a unique insight into the fascinating world of white gold.
If you visit the Meissen porcelain manufactory, you can not only learn about the history of this precious material but also try your hand at it. At the Meissen Theme World, you can watch how porcelain is made in guided tours, visit the museum with its extensive collection, take part in workshops, browse the flagship store and stop for a break at the Café & Restaurant Meissen.
It was gold that alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger was meant to produce when Elector Augustus the Strong had him brought from Wittenberg to Dresden in 1701 under strict secrecy and installed him at Schlossplatz. Several years later, with the monarch’s patience wearing thin, Böttger and fellow researchers, including the mathematician, physicist and mineralogist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, had a breakthrough: in 1708, they uncovered the closely guarded secret of porcelain production. Their groundbreaking discovery soon was known around the world as Meissen porcelain. At that time, porcelain was a highly prized luxury item, imported almost exclusively from Asia.
In 1710, August the Strong established Europe’s first porcelain manufactory in Albrechtsburg Castle, Germany’s oldest castle, high above the rooftops of Meissen. Around 150 years later, production was relocated to its current site, just a short walk away.
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory: A Look Behind the Scenes
Today the manufactory is almost as popular as the fine porcelain itself. A visit to the Meissen Theme World not only offers insight into the history of Meissen porcelain, but also the chance to see how it is made at close quarters.
In guided tours of the workshop, visitors can watch skilled artisans at work, shaping raw porcelain paste into intricate works of art. The production process ranges from shaping the pieces on a foot-powered potter’s wheel to underglaze and overglaze painting, all the way to applying the Meissen trademark – the famous crossed swords from the Saxon coat of arms.
During the two-hour special guided tour “manufacTOUR” visitors can explore the full process of traditional porcelain making: from extracting porcelain clay (kaolin) in the manufactory’s own mine to preparing the porcelain paste, model and mould making, painting, and firing in the kiln hall. Also worth seeing is the mould archive, with more than 700,000 moulds, which reflects over 315 years of the manufactory’s history.
An impressive collection: the Meissen Porcelain Museum
A true highlight of the Meissen Theme World is the museum of the Meissen Porcelain Foundation. More than 2,000 exhibits from over three centuries showcase the development of the manufactory and the diversity of its craftsmanship. The collection includes renowned objects such as the animal menagerie of August the Strong and the exquisitely painted table figurines that once adorned banquet tables at the Saxon court. Regularly changing special exhibitions highlight new pieces.
If you fancy working with porcelain paste yourself – designing a vase, casting a carafe or painting a cup – you can join one of the creative workshops. Afterwards, take a break at the Café & Restaurant Meissen, where Saxon classics are served – as you’d expect on fine Meissen porcelain. It’s also worth stopping by the flagship store, which offers a wide selection of Meissen porcelain, from classic designs such as the iconic onion pattern to contemporary creations, limited editions and unique pieces developed in collaboration with international artists.
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The Meissen porcelain manufactory attracts visitors from all over the world and is one of Saxony’s flagship attractions. For more than 315 years, Meissen porcelain has been produced here. At Europe’s first porcelain manufactory, you can gain a unique insight into the fascinating world of white gold.
If you visit the Meissen porcelain manufactory, you can not only learn about the history of this precious material but also try your hand at it. At the Meissen Theme World, you can watch how porcelain is made in guided tours, visit the museum with its extensive collection, take part in workshops, browse the flagship store and stop for a break at the Café & Restaurant Meissen.
The History of Meissen Porcelain
It was gold that alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger was meant to produce when Elector Augustus the Strong had him brought from Wittenberg to Dresden in 1701 under strict secrecy and installed him at Schlossplatz. Several years later, with the monarch’s patience wearing thin, Böttger and fellow researchers, including the mathematician, physicist and mineralogist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, had a breakthrough: in 1708, they uncovered the closely guarded secret of porcelain production. Their groundbreaking discovery soon was known around the world as Meissen porcelain. At that time, porcelain was a highly prized luxury item, imported almost exclusively from Asia.
In 1710, August the Strong established Europe’s first porcelain manufactory in Albrechtsburg Castle, Germany’s oldest castle, high above the rooftops of Meissen. Around 150 years later, production was relocated to its current site, just a short walk away.
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory: A Look Behind the Scenes
Today the manufactory is almost as popular as the fine porcelain itself. A visit to the Meissen Theme World not only offers insight into the history of Meissen porcelain, but also the chance to see how it is made at close quarters.
In guided tours of the workshop, visitors can watch skilled artisans at work, shaping raw porcelain paste into intricate works of art. The production process ranges from shaping the pieces on a foot-powered potter’s wheel to underglaze and overglaze painting, all the way to applying the Meissen trademark – the famous crossed swords from the Saxon coat of arms.
During the two-hour special guided tour “manufacTOUR” visitors can explore the full process of traditional porcelain making: from extracting porcelain clay (kaolin) in the manufactory’s own mine to preparing the porcelain paste, model and mould making, painting, and firing in the kiln hall. Also worth seeing is the mould archive, with more than 700,000 moulds, which reflects over 315 years of the manufactory’s history.
An impressive collection: the Meissen Porcelain Museum
A true highlight of the Meissen Theme World is the museum of the Meissen Porcelain Foundation. More than 2,000 exhibits from over three centuries showcase the development of the manufactory and the diversity of its craftsmanship. The collection includes renowned objects such as the animal menagerie of August the Strong and the exquisitely painted table figurines that once adorned banquet tables at the Saxon court. Regularly changing special exhibitions highlight new pieces.
Porcelain Workshops and Culinary Delights
If you fancy working with porcelain paste yourself – designing a vase, casting a carafe or painting a cup – you can join one of the creative workshops. Afterwards, take a break at the Café & Restaurant Meissen, where Saxon classics are served – as you’d expect on fine Meissen porcelain. It’s also worth stopping by the flagship store, which offers a wide selection of Meissen porcelain, from classic designs such as the iconic onion pattern to contemporary creations, limited editions and unique pieces developed in collaboration with international artists.
Meissen Theme World
Talstr. 9
01662 Meissen