Limited Edition Bottle Vase, Floral

The porcelain art of China, the birthplace of the "white gold", was the great source of inspiration during the early years of the Meissen manufactory. Augustus the Strong was captivated by the artistic perfection of Chinese blue decoration, and the forms of many vessels were likewise inspired by the shapes created under the great dynasties of the Far East. This vessel revisits that early stylistic heritage in the form of a traditional Chinese water bottle.

For the magnificent decoration of rhythmically arranged blossoms and leaves, carefully adapted to the contours of the vessel, the experienced porcelain painter Ulrich Mehner drew upon designs preserved in the manufactory's archives. The floral motifs are painted in brilliant cobalt blue, the most renowned underglaze colour of the Meissen tradition, onto the still unglazed, absorbent porcelain body. As the colour penetrates the raw porcelain, its true intensity remains hidden until the glaze firing. What first appears as a muted grey transforms into the luminous cobalt blue that also adorns the Crossed Swords, the world-famous trademark of the manufactory. Creating an elegant contrast to Mehner's blue painting is a contemporary form of gold decoration, in which 24-carat gold is applied to the biscuit porcelain surface and develops a refined matte appearance after firing.

Flower painting is deeply rooted in the history of the Meissen porcelain manufactory as an artistic genre in its own right. Floral motifs rank among the earliest decorative themes used to embellish precious porcelain, initially inspired by East Asian models and later evolving towards increasingly naturalistic depictions and opulent still lifes in the manner of the Old Masters. It is a tradition of craftsmanship that has continued to grow over the centuries and remains alive today in a wide variety of painting styles.