Street traders

Country: Germany

Manufactory: Meissen

Date of establishment: late 19th century

Height (cm): 19

Porcelain Story

Exactly 310 years ago, on March 28, 1709, the German alchemist Johann Betger handed over to the court office of the Elector Augustus the Strong of Saxony records of his final experiments in obtaining porcelain. The success of Betger's experiments predetermined the real discovery: the young alchemist discovered that the so-called "Schnorr earth", mined near Dresden and usually used for powdering wigs, is a material for the production of porcelain that is in no way inferior or even superior to kaolin - a rock that Chinese porcelain masters used a lot and kept as a closely guarded secret for centuries.

In fact, until the moment of receiving hard porcelain, Betger was locked up in the Königstein fortress. He was kept there by order of Augustus the Strong, who was in great need of money and therefore forced the young alchemist to seek the secret of the "philosopher's stone" and the transformation into gold of minerals that had nothing to do with this precious metal. And since for centuries in Europe Chinese porcelain was worth its weight in gold (even noble people considered porcelain shards set in a gold frame to be luxury items and wore them around their necks!), Betger's discovery was duly appreciated by the powerful elector of Saxony, who freed the alchemist from taken into custody and appointed him the head of the porcelain factory in Meissen.

True, Betger did not enjoy his freedom for long - for trying to sell the secret of making porcelain to the king of Prussia, he was again taken into custody. But by that time, Saxon porcelain had already gained fame throughout Europe. At one time, visiting both Dresden and Meissen, we became closely acquainted with the origins of the creation of one of the first in Europe and the best porcelain production in the world. Our collection has been enriched by beautiful pieces from the old Meissen masters, including the famous "Seasons" set, consisting of unique candlesticks, a mantel clock and a grandiose chandelier, adorned with many delicate figures and beautiful flowers.