Go straight to:

Augarten
Dresden
Furstenberg
Hochst
Hutschenreuther
KPM (Berlin)
Ludwigsburg
Meissen
Nymphenburg
Royal Copenhagen
Sitzendorf
Volkstedt
Wiener Bronzen

Est. 1719. Based in Vienna, Augarten is perhaps best known for its series of 8 models depicting the movements of the Spanish Riding School. They also make a number of other elegant animal sculptures in a pure white porcelain or just tinged with colour.
In recent years, many designs originating in the early 20th century have been revived and added to the traditional range of giftware. Their boxes, dishes and tableware are, along with Nymphenburg, extremely fine in texture.

When the term "Dresden" was applied to a figure in the U.K. before l940, it referred to Meissen, which is about 30 kilometres away. Dresden now is more of a generic term covering the style of porcelain made by a number of factories in the surrounding area.

The Furstenburg factory was founded in 1747 and continues to make a small amount of manufactured hand painted figures. The most well known of these are the 15 Italian comedy figures and are available to order.

First period founded 1746.
Second period founded 1796.

Probably the most important influence on recent Hochst productions was the arrival from Meissen of Dr Fischer. Under his influence several earlier models have been reintroduced including a Pug by Melchior.

Est. 1815. During the late 20th century Hutschenreuther pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible to produce in porcelain to. No longer did a birds wing or a horses legs have to be supported by an opportune tree trunk - technical mastery and ingenious design allowed them to stand free giving them a far greater sense of movement and realism.
Natural representations, particularly of animals and birds, are what Hutschenreuther excel at.

Est. 1763. K.P.M. lost a large proportion of their inventory during WW II and the emphasis of their current production is on gift ware rather than figurative porcelain. Many of the remaining pieces have a grandeur more reminiscent of the neo-classical than rococo style. The cut work used in many of their baskets and vases is wonderfully crisp and clean.
There has been a switch away from traditional painting in recent years towards more experimental forms of decoration, often on large vases and bowls with clean lines able to take bold colours and dramatic deVolkstedtsigns.

Est. 1756. This is the smallest of the manufacturies with an eclectic inventory. They make just one animal ( a goat) and 2 birds but many beautiful traditional figures. Amongst their selection of flatware which includes exquisitely painted baskets, trays and vases are some simple contemporary designs that show off the beauty of the porcelain body to perfection.

Est. 1710. Meissen dominates the ornamental market in terms of reputation, quality, investment potential, artistic variety, training, research and development and the shere number and variety of pieces made.
It can perhaps be more easily described by dividing the inventory into 4 categories: - traditional figures, animals and birds, white and modern.

The various series of figures created by J.J. Kaendler and his collegues in the mid-18th century form the basis of many collections. The monkey band is best known but there is also a human orchestra, Italian Comedy, Oriental, Cries of Paris, Gardeners children and many other series that can form outstanding collections. There are also many statuesque humourous and composite figures from that period reflecting current pastimes or fables.

Many of the beautiful bird and animal sculptures also stem from that time when Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony in the early 18th century, formed an aviary as a research tool for his artists. Together with the work that has been added over the centuries, a comprehensive range is available of dogs, cats, other wild and domestic animals as well as countless birds.

White Meissen has almost a blue tinge compared with the creamier shade of some other manufacturers. Many of the sculptures made in white continue to also be made in the original Bottger stoneware which, when oiled, has a sheen not dissimilar to bronze.

The term modern encompasses the work of individual artists attached to Meissen from the beginning of the 20th century- names such as Paul Scheurich, Max Esser, Ernst Barlach and more recently, Ludwig Zepner, Peter Strang and Olaf Fieber. Some of the most recent work has been free-formed rather than moulded . This allows for a feeling of vitality and immediacy and though the finish can never be as fine, the quality of materials and artistry nevertheless remain.

Est. 1747. Nymphenburg at its best is unsurpassed in this field. Having no school or resident sculptors, they have produced work of either commissioned or bought from a variety of freelance artists over the years which makes a Nymphenburg "style" harder to recognise.
That is apart from the greatest of all sculptors in porcelain, F.A. Bustelli, whose distinctive series of figures created for Nymphenburg at the end of the 18th century, command the highest prices in the salerooms. Figures made today from the same models are as exquisite in execution and detail, lacking only the rarity that comes with age.

Many of Nymphenburg,s acclaimed wild life sculptures as well as their dog figures were modelled during the early 20th century as well as the more humourous and highly collectible menagerie created by Luise Terletski-Scherf. Many collectors of Nymphenburg, however, prefer the plain, unpainted pieces which show off the light creamy texture of the porcelain as well as the detailed forms of the animals or birds to advantage.

Est. 1775. Because of the very high temperature at which it is fired, the underglaze colours used at Copenhagen become integrated with the heavy glaze, resulting in the distinctive muted shading of blues and greys. Only when gold leaf is applied can soft pinks be achieved.
Because of this unique, highly tactile, finish, it does not necessarily compliment other more strongly coloured makes of porcelain. Admirers of Copenhagen have many different subjects to collect, however, including studies of children, animals and birds ranging from an miniature mouse on a sugar lump to a waist high polar bear.

Sitzendorf is the name best known for its large range of decorative figures and birds including many "lacy ladies". These use a process whereby lace is dipped in porcelain before being applied to the model. During firing the lace disintegrates leaving the much prized "lace effect".

Est. 1762. Volkstedt is the oldest of the Dresden factories and makes a large range of traditional figures. More recently, with its sister company, Unterweissbach, it has been involved in the reissuing of the works created by artists at the beginning of the 20th century who belonged to the Schwarzburger Werkstatten. A large number of these are in plain white porcelain.
Swarzburger Werkstatten was a groups of sculptors which started working together in l908. About 120 artists were involved in this studio over the next thirty years, many of whom went on to work for Meissen, K,P,M, and Hutschenreuther.

Please check back soon for more information on Weiner Bronzen.