German

Antique German porcelain production by a number of small, privately-held factories in the 1700s was greatly influenced by larger firms such as Meissen and Frankenthal, with most copying the latter's work. Hard-paste porcelain was first manufactured in Europe at Meissen, near Dresden, where a factory was established by Augustus II (1670-1733), King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. Meissen maintained its dominance of the European porcelain industry until the defeat of Saxony during the Seven Years War (1756-63). Regions noteworthy for these antique German porcelain makers were North Bavaria, Dresden, Saxony, Silesia, Thuringia and Tillowitz.

The carefully guarded arcanum (composition and method) for porcelain and the kiln technology was leaked from Vienna. This eventually resulted in the establishment of seven major German factories in the early 1750s, all of which enjoyed princely patronage and which flourished, particularly between 1750 and 1775. At least 20 smaller German factories were also founded during this period. With the exception of Meissen, Nymphenberg and Berlin, most factories failed once their founding patrons died and the novelty of porcelain waned at the end of the 18th century.

A large collection of Meissen forms the heart of the 18th-century German porcelain collection at the Gardiner Museum. This was given by George and Helen Gardiner, who were particularly interested in collecting objects with yellow grounds.