Dessert Dish
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Emily H. Chauncey
Accession Number
1959-155-11
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant **Dessert Dish** from Meissen Porcelain Manactory exemplifies the enduring legacy of Europe's pioneering porcelain producer, founded in 1710 near Dresden, Germany. Meissen achieved a world first by developing hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent material mimicking Chinese imports—under the patronage of Augustus the Strong. By the mid-19th century when this piece was made, the manufactory had mastered intricate techniques like underglaze painting, gilding, and sculptural modeling, blending neoclassical restraint with romantic flourishes to create luxurious tableware for Euro...