hearts among the flowers, 19th century, crossed swords mark, 4.5" tall....Meissen: The Allure of Continental PorcelainAAASecrecy. Deceit. Imprisonment. The stuff of spy thrillers and international intrigue. True. But they are also words that can be used to describe the early discovery and development of porcelain in Europe.These beautiful and delicate icons that adorn our homes were once the objects of ferocious competition and the precious prizes coveted by kings. Today, avid collectors share the passion for porcelain and are no less voracious in their appetite for rare and beautiful examples.Porcelain was introduced in China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368). By the 17th century, it had exerted its magnetic pull on the West, and Europeans were anxious to discover the secret potion responsible for its amazing beauty and strength. The Chinese, however, were reluctant to reveal the secrets of porcelain whose dear price and insatiablepopularity in the West were making them wealthy.Early in the 18th century, Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony, arrested alchemist Johann Friedrich Bottger and imprisoned him in the town of Meissen; his mission, to discover the secret formula for hard paste porcelain. In 1708 Bottger unlocked the mystery and found the key to both porcelain and his freedom, and by 1718 factories began springing up across Europe fostering an atmosphere of ferocious competition.By 1720, the Meissen factory was producing wares that eclipsed even the finest Chinese porcelain. They dominated the European market and influenced porcelain production around the world.The Seven Year War in the late 1750s brought a halt to production at Meissen, and the mantle fell to the Royal Manufactory at Sévres, France, under the direction of King Louis VX. The third European factory to lead the market was that of Vienna, which in 1744 became the property of the Empire.Collecting Continental PorcelainAll three factories were founded for the singular pleasure and whim of their monarch. Designs were based on the dictates of royal taste, and artisans and craftsmen who excelled in satisfing their kings were well rewarded. Thus, from these factories emerged some of the most spectacular and breathtaking pieces of art ever created.Recognizing distinct characteristics of Meissen, Sévres and Vienna porcelain, along with a familiarity of maker's marks, is important when assembling a collection and necessary in avoiding fakes and reproductions.Meissen procelain is perhaps most noted for its allegorical figures and those of everyday people in period costume and is without a doubt the most decorative of the three factories. Often heavily adorned with floral decoration, Meissen pieces imbue a fresh spontaneity and fluidity of motion along with an incredible technical excellence. Figures, urns, candelabra, mirrors etc. reflect a playful elegance and charm that has made them popular for more than 200 years.Authentic Meissen is marked with the traditional blue crossed swords which, despite minor variations over the years, has remained consistent.