Typically made from a base of kaolin clay, porcelain dates back to 1600 BCE and is thought to have originated in China, although European porcelain rapidly gained popularity in the 1600s and 1700s. A piece of porcelain generally falls into one of three categories of production: hard paste, which is made of kaolin, quartz and alabaster; soft paste, which is comprised of kaolin and feldspathic rocks; and bone
china, which was originally developed in England and is made from bone ash, kaolin and feldspars. And it is almost always fired in a kiln at somewhere between 2100 and 2600 degrees Fahrenheit.
At Sarasota Antique Buyers, we love to both buy and sell porcelain, and our list of favorites includes Meissen, Delft, Dresden and Quimper, all of which can be identified by the singular marks on the bottom of the pieces.
Meissen porcelain's signature trademark: a pair of blue crossed swords.
Meissen porcelain is hard-paste porcelain that was developed in Europe in the early 18th century. Its signature trademark is a pair of crossed swords and a blue mark, and is one of the oldest trademarks still in existence today. Meissen porcelain was the most popular type of porcelain in Europe until the 1750s.
Delft porcelain often features a singular blue hue.
Delft porcelain is one of the most recognizable porcelains in the world, thanks to its tin glazing, metal oxide sealant, and hand-painted brand name it employs as its trademark. Delft porcelain’s origins can be traced back to the Netherlands in the 16th century, and although not all Delft porcelain is blue and white, it is most recognizable by that hue.
Dresden porcelain's trademark.
Dresden porcelain came into existence in 1872, and is still crafted completely by hand in Dresden, Germany. Its trademark, shown above, is protected and guarantees the originality of the piece, and like its sister, Meissen porcelain, it also has a dark blue mark under its glaze, making a piece recognizable as an authentic.
Quimper porcelain and its petit Bretons.
And, finally, Quimper porcelain is manufactured in France and often features a popular representation of the “petit Breton,” a man or woman dressed in traditional Breton garb. Like Dresden porcelain, Quimper pieces are all hand-painted.
Are you a collector of porcelain, or simply a lover of the art? Do you have a favorite kind of porcelain? If so, make sure to visit the porcelain section of our website, or—if you’re interested in buying or selling a piece or set—contact us. We’d love to hear from you!
