Dresden china or, if you prefer the term, Dresden porcelain, indicates more of an artistic expression than a particular group of styles in china figurines or a type of dinnerware.

It was during the 19th century that a number of pottery studios began their life in the Saxony capital of Dresden. Romanticism has taken root as an artistic taste and the creation of these studios was very much in response. The city of Dresden was certainly a vital, artistic and intellectual centre that attracted creative individuals including the talented, German porcelain decorators.

And it was in 1883, stimulated by the artistic endeavours happening in the city, that four, influential ceramic decorators finally decided to register a Dresden china mark – the now famous blue crown. This, in many respects, was the creation of the ‘Dresden brand’ of antique china.

There is still much confusion about the relationship and apparent interchangeability of the names Meissen and Dresden. This general misunderstanding primarily relates to the very early period of German porcelain production.

The discovery of the processes for creating hard paste porcelain was made under the authority of Augustus the Strong in the city of Dresden. Production, however, actually took place in the nearby city of Meissen in 1710.  As Dresden was very much the commercial centre of the area most of the Meissen antique china was sold in that city.

But as Meissen china and figurines were marked with a blue cross-swords mark it mistakenly was referred to as Dresden china. Of course, collectors today definitely distinguish between Meissen china and the Dresden china pieces which generally have a blue crown stamp or some form of blue crown mark.

So while the porcelain and figurines of the Dresden ceramics decorators often competed with those created at Meissen, no actual porcelain production took place in Dresden. And the antique china of Meissen was definitely produced by the factories in that city alone.

Many experts consider that Dresden china is in the rather ornate, rococo revival style.

Originating from the French word “rocaille” which means rock or grotto works, the rococo style was revived in the 19th century and gradually infiltrated the interior architecture and style of the grand houses of the day. The Dresden china artists began to use this flamboyant style on their dinnerware; decorating their fine pieces with an abundance of flowers, shells, foliage and scroll work.

Between 1855 and 1944, there were over 200 porcelain decorators’ studios in Dresden.

The Dresden porcelain style is identified by the blue crown stamp. This was first used by Richard Klemm, Donath & Co., Oswald Lorenz, and Adolph Hamann in 1883.  Their unique style was a balanced combination of Vienna flower, Meissen and figure painting. Later decorators also employed the Crown and Dresden mark such as Ambrosius Lamm, Franziska Hirsch, Helena Wolfsohn and Carl Thieme.

Undoubtedly, early Dresden china is deservedly classed as antique china. It is, in most cases, finely modelled and produced to a high quality. Some have described it as the “poor man’s Meissen” but, in my view, it stands in a superior class of its own.