Precious Porcelain

That most refined and precious of materials, porcelain has signified absolute luxury in decoration for centuries. From its origins in ancient China to adorning 21st-century homes, porcelain has always added beauty and grandeur to interiors, and no wonder when its production remains one of the world’s most intricate artisanal practices.

We look behind the scenes at three of our favourite brands, Lladró, Meissen and Nymphenburg (1), which have had a great impact on porcelain design and the processes involved in making these exquisite pieces.

In today’s throwaway world, decorative items such as the figurines and ornaments by Spanish company Lladró represent authenticity and a dedication to craftsmanship. Based at its City of Porcelain headquarters in Valencia – a huge complex with makers' studios and workshops as well as gardens and a museum – Lladró employs and trains more than 2,000 artists in the skills of this meticulous craft. Every detail of each piece, down to the last flower petal, is hand-sculpted in clay and cast in plaster, with most figurines requiring up to 20 moulds (2, 3) and the most complex requiring up to 300. Then each fragment is joined and painted by hand (4), coated with Lladró's signature milky translucent glaze, and fired.

Evoking elegant, gentle and often playful character, Lladró’s porcelain pieces are loved the world over, but the material’s inherent desirability dates back a lot further than this company’s 1950s beginnings.

In the late 1600s, China’s most luxurious export was porcelain, which became as highly prized as jewels in Europe and was often referred to as white gold. But porcelain was only available from China, so scientists in Europe embarked on developing the mysterious (and potentially lucrative) technology in order to make their own.

Inspired by the opulent aesthetics of the Orient, Chinoiserie style (5) became all the rage. Its exotic and whimsical patterns – depicting pagodas, dragons and sages – adorned many a dining table.

Meissen (6) in Germany became the first European company to crack the secret of how porcelain was made. And since that time over 300 years ago, it has put an emphasis on hand-production and attention to detail, maintaining porcelain’s regal connotations, and in turn becoming associated with the most highly regarded households through the centuries. Its current designs still reference Chinese, royal and vintage themes, as well as contemporary monochrome styles.

Similarly, fellow German porcelain manufacturer Nymphenburg put quality first, leading to its products becoming signifiers of wealth and good taste. The brand became renowned for working with artists to create striking pieces, which it still does today.

Historically, hostesses used porcelain to bring a splash of splendour to their parties, and were often judged on the standard of their tableware. Iconic women such as Wallis Simpson (7) and Gina Lollobrigida were known to be fans of Nymphenburg porcelain (8, 9), so much so, they individually visited the German headquarters.

One can only imagine the sumptuous surroundings their pieces sat in, but today porcelain wares can take on all sorts of personalities. Whether it’s an eclectic collection of china at a vintage tea party, or a single statement figurine on a white shelf, this timeless material signifies special occasion and extravagance.

Owning a piece by one of these companies means owning a slice of history, reminiscent of a glamorous bygone era, so enjoy it every day.

(lladro.com)
(meissen.com)
(nymphenburg.com)