Glazing

The glaze is a suspension of finely ground raw materials similar to the porcelain body. In addition to quartz and kaolin, important components include fluxes such as chalk and dolomite. During the glaze firing at approximately 1,400°C, these materials fuse into a glass-like, transparent layer. The glaze not only creates the characteristic brilliance but also gives the porcelain its final strength and resistance to liquids and mechanical stress.

Decorations such as the iconic “Onion Pattern,” which are applied under the glaze to the raw body, are especially well protected by this technique. The same applies to the cobalt-blue “Crossed Swords,” the trademark of the MEISSEN Porcelain Manufactory, which are safely protected from wear and manipulation.

Figurines and delicate porcelain pieces are often glazed by spraying them with a fine glaze mist. To ensure that every area is evenly covered, the glaze is lightly tinted beforehand—usually blue. This allows the artisan to immediately see during the spraying process whether the entire object has been coated evenly and whether any gaps remain.

The glaze therefore fulfills several important functions: it makes the porcelain dense and stable, creates a brilliant sheen, protects the decorations underneath, and provides the ideal base for applied colors and gold embellishments. Without careful glazing, neither the distinctive aesthetic of Meissen porcelain nor the durability of its artful decorations would be possible.