Meissen

Meissen is the oldest porcelain manufactory in Europe, established in 1710 in Saxony following the discovery of the secret of hard-paste porcelain production by alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger and scientist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. Meissen porcelain quickly became a cult object among the European and Russian aristocracy, including Catherine II and the Stroganov and Yusupov princes. Since 1722, pieces have been marked with the 'crossed swords' emblem, applied in underglaze cobalt blue. Today, the manufactory maintains its tradition of manual production, and Meissen masterpieces are held in the world's most prominent museum collections, including the Hermitage.