originally posted March 17, 2008
Before Prada, Dom Pèrignon and Mercedes-Benz, there was Meissen — the porcelain mark with the distinctive crossed blue swords, perhaps Europe’s oldest luxury brand.
Visiting Meissen and Dresden on a porcelain tour was the subject of a wonderful travel article in this past weekend’s Wall Street Journal saturday section. In preparation for the company’s 300th anniversary in 2010, Meissen has updated and re-vamped their store in Dresden and their visitor facilities in Meissen. The article discusses the incredible Swan Service, originally created in 1737 for Augustus the Strong’s PM (and still available) and also the classic and ever-popular Blue Onion(also of course still available). Of interest to anybody visiting Germany in the next month is that April 19th will be Meissen’s annual Open Day, when the general public can see the entire factory premises and see the artists at work. On March, 14th, a 300th Anniversary exhibition opened at the Meissen museum on the history of porcelain; among many other things being exhibited, the museum is displaying the innovative ceramic brakes of a Porsche 911 GT2 from 2001; I assume they will also be displaying a figurine or two.