The beginning of european porcelain production.
From
the beginning of the 15th century porcelain was considered a valuable
and luxurious material, (white gold), by the nobility and wealthy
of the day and was bought from the merchants of Genoa, Pisa, Venice
and Portugal. This prestige was also due to the mystery associated
with its fabrication, which remained secret until the 15th century.
The
first major breakthrough
in porcelain production took place in Florence under Francesco de
Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, from 1575 to 1597. Using a furnace
designed by Bountalenti and Fontana, a soft paste porcelain was
produced, the production becoming known as "Medici Porcelain".
However,
production of quality porcelain on a par with the Chinese wares
wasn't developed until 1708 when the physicist and chemist Von Tschirnhauser
and the alchemist Johann Bottger succeeded in developing a hard
paste porcelain. As a consequence of this Augustus II, King of Poland,
founded the first European hard paste porcelain factory at Meissen
in 1710.
 For
almost ten years the formula for this poreclain remained a jealously
guarded secret within the confines of the walls of the Abbrechtsburg
Castle.
However,
once the arcanum
and kiln technology became known in the mid-18th century, porcelain
factories began to spring up all over Europe.
Porcelain
was the novelty of the age and factories sprang up in Vienna, Venice
and France. At that time the discovery and desire for porcelain
ran parallel with the appetites and flagrant and audacious moods
in 18th and 19th century society. The desire for the exotic : tea,
coffee and chocolate, nurtured in turn the need for new suitable
receptacles that were produced in this new exotic material, porcelain.
From
1725 to 1740
the Meissen production included handpainted tables and the first
important figurines were issued towards 1735. The most accomplished
in terms of artistic expression were those of Keandler who was active
from 1731 to 1765.
Groups
and figures of the first half of the 18th century found their inspiration
in paintings by Watteau, Lancret and Chardin. The passion for vases
originated in emulation of the Japanese and Chinese vessels which
were eventually superseded by rococo style art.
 However,
the figurines produced in the 19th century, represented an entirely
new art form. They took their themes and subjects from contemporary
painting; gallant subjects and characters from the theatre of the
Commedia dell'Arte.
The
collecting of porcelain, which was originally the preserve of the
Court, was copied by the noble and affluent and so porcelain production
was further stimulated by the needs and desires of the higher echelons
of society.
The
development of porcelain production also owes much to various persona,
not least Augustus II of Poland, but also to Madame de Pompadour
in France, a favourite of King Louis XV, who influenced the decoration
of French Porcelain with her own style. It was due to her intervention
that the old French porcelain factory in the Chateau at Vicennes
was transferred to Sèvres.
Both the Sèvres and Meissen factories share the
honour of having the oldest continous working life.
A
further important royal patron of porcelain was Charles of Bourbon,
King of Naples, who became Charles III King of Spain in 1759. His
wife was Queen Maria Amalia, daughter of Augustus III of Poland
and grandaughter of Augustus II of Poland (Augustus the Strong),
founder of Meissen.
On
Charles' ascent to the Spanish throne the original porcelain factory,
which had been built in the Royal Palace of Capodimonte, was demolished,
and the artists and materials transferred to Spain where a new porcelain
manufactory was created at the Castello of Buen Ritiro near Madrid.
Charles' son Ferdinand IV continued his father's tradition in Naples,
starting a new factory that began production in 1771 at Portici.
Other
important Italian factories include the third oldest European factory
founded in Venice in 1720 by Giovanni Vezzi but which closed after
a relatively brief life in 1727 due to financial problems.
Also
the hard paste porcelain factory at Vinovo near Turin frequented
by the Savoy Royal Family as well as an important manufactory at
Doccia near Florence, founded by the Marquis Carlo Ginori in 1735,
and which is still active today.
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Porcelain and antique ceramic history began in europe,
long after it was first produced in China at the time of the Tang
dynasty, (618-907).