Museum

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Meissen Museum

The Museum of the Meissen Porcelain Foundation displays works from the manufactory’s 300 years of history. The collection tells the rich story of Europe’s oldest porcelain manufactory.

Richard Bampi Prize 2022

7 May – 17 July 2022

Young ceramists resident in Germany will be presenting their unique, innovative work in our Porcelain Museum, a venue that acts as a fittingly glamorous backdrop for superbly crafted Meissen porcelain. You will be able to gain exciting insights into the work of budding artists and at the same time encounter a wealth of contrast between traditional and more modern formal idioms.

Gesellschaft der Keramikfreunde e.V. will be awarding the Richard Bampi Prize, worth €15,000 in total, for the 16th time in 2022. The competition is being run in cooperation with the Meissen Porcelain Foundation and the Meissen State Porcelain Manufactory.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog, which is available in the MEISSEN Store in Meißen

reserve the time slot

Meissen mark tercentenary (1722–2022)

The venerable crossed blue swords with which the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory signs its products are a byword the world over for the authenticity and quality of Meissen porcelain. And 2022 sees Europe’s first trademark turn 300!
After the arcanist (person with knowledge of one or more of the secrets of making porcelain) Samuel Stöltzel had fled to Vienna and divulged all he knew, Europe’s second porcelain factory was set up there. Initially, everything from Meissen was copied. The Manufactory’s then inspector, Johann Melchior Steinbrück, responded in November 1722 by proposing that the crossed swords from the Electoral Saxon arms be used as a means of identifying authentic Meissen porcelains.
The crossed blue swords were combined with the now binding manner of writing “Meissen” as of 1972. This is a form of spelling that, for the purposes of rendering the city’s name more readily intelligible internationally, differs from the way it is normally rendered, i.e. “Meißen”, where the letter “ß” actually stands for a double “s” but would be mistaken for a “B” in other languages.
Specially trained painters have continued to apply the sword mark to Meissen porcelains by hand in underglaze cobalt blue up to the present day. But what does this cobalt blue look like before it has been fired? And how fine must the brush be with which the swords are applied? These are questions that are addressed in the section in our demonstration workshops dealing with underglaze painting.

The Meissen Porcelain Museum has designed media stations for this tercentenary year and invites visitors to delve interactively and with great fun into the history of this Meissen mark.

Celebrating Jörg Danielczyk’s 70th birthday

2 June–3 July 2022

Special exhibition in the Museum

Jörg Danielczyk’s work had a seminal influence on the modern formal idiom adopted at the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Bearing particular witness to the skill and artistry of this former student of Peter Strang are large-format sculptures such as Saxonia, the lady who welcomes guests from all over the world to the MEISSEN theme world in the foyer. In his role as artistic head of modelling and designer-in-chief, he produced numerous sculptures and out-of-the-ordinary murals and tableware services in porcelain, along with medals and other stylish one-offs, for private and public clients alike.

The artist Jörg Danielczyk worked at the Manufactory for almost five decades before retiring in 2018. He turns 70 on 28 June 2022. Our special show pays tribute to his creative work in porcelain by pinpointing some of the artistic highlights from amongst his vast repertoire.

Attendance at the exhibition is covered by the cost of entry to the House of Meissen.

Photo: Jörg Danielczyk 2014 in seinem Manufakturatelier bei der Arbeit an „Pegasos“, der Preisstatue für den deutschen Sportpresseball © MEISSEN

Chris Antemann’s great passion for MEISSEN turns 10 years old

15 July 2022 – 26 February 2023

Special exhibition in the Museum

The first collection of one-offs and limited-edition artworks in Meissen porcelain by the American artist Chris Antemann appeared back in 2012. Drawing her inspiration from figurines modelled in the 18th century, she has fashioned several table centres, sensuous figurines, candleholders and vase objects bearing her distinctive stamp.

The exhibition points up how Antemann’s work ties in with the Manufactory’s own history and sheds light on the contribution her formal vocabulary is making today.

The world‘s first organ made of MEISSEN® porcelain

The world’s first organ to feature pipes made of MEISSEN Porcelain is a consummate example of porcelain art.

Augustus the Strong, founder of the Manufactory, had commissioned an organ with porcelain pipes to be made way back in the early 18th century. It was not until the year 2000 that the job was completed, though.

Guests from all over the world have been succumbing to the magic of music produced by MEISSEN Porcelain pipes ever since.

Listen to the contrast between wooden, metal and porcelain pipes, when they guide through ages like the museum does.

Dates: by prior arrangement
Price: € 200.-/group, € 1.- seating per person if group consists of more than 30 persons
Duration: 15-20 minutes

REQUEST

The world‘s first organ made of MEISSEN® porcelain

Digitally relive the invention of Europe’s first porcelain

In a new exhibition area, the Museum lets visitors delve into the mysterious origins of Meissen porcelain with the aid of a special multivisual presentation.

Dynamic lighting and vivid projections combine with historical exhibits in finest porcelain and, at their heart, the “Philosopher’s Stone” to bring the space dramatically alive. Text inserts and film sequences allow the Meissen Manufactory’s genesis more than 300 years ago to be interactively experienced – visitors learn much of interest about Johann Friedrich Böttger, famous alchemist and inventor of Meissen porcelain, and those who assisted him. There is no extra charge for this presentation, which can be viewed in either German or English.

„From "Snowball Blossoms" and the "Swan Service" all the way to contemporary sculptures – the Meissen manufactory’s legacy is unparalleled in the history of European porcelain.“

Daily Tours

personal guided tours in the Workshop

This event is only in German.

As an alternative, we offer the exclusive guided tour through the museum and workshop.

Exclusive tours are bookable in 11 languages:

German, English, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and Czech.

Time and price, please kindly contact our visitor service.

As low as €0.00

Incl. VAT
booking
Personal Guided Tours in the Museum

This event is only in German.

As an alternative, we offer the exclusive guided tour through the museum and workshop.

Exclusive tours are bookable in 11 languages:

German, English, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and Czech.

Time and price, please kindly contact our visitor service.

As low as €0.00

Incl. VAT
booking