The Best of Austria Porcelain

There have been no details of the historical records offound, and figures, of which few were made, are the
the porcelain development in Austria. Theirrarest. The most common mark is "St. C T" in blue or
manufactories were established with the help ofincised. The factory closed in 1766.
people who ran away from Dresden. But the factoriesChantilly
faced with continual difficulties, it could not continue forA soft-paste factory was founded at Chantilly in 1725
long and many of the manufacturing units were closedand made wares covered in an attractive glaze
down. The French claimed that the soft-paste was atcontaining tin, which gave it a smooth, white, and
Rouen as early as 1673 but that has not been thedistinctive appearance. Tableware's, vases and other
accepted one by the majority.useful pieces were made, and neatly decorated in
Viennabrilliant colors that rely on the beautiful white surface
In 1719, with the help of a runaway from Dresden, afor their full effect. Later wares were lead-glazed and
factory was started under the manager ship of Claudof a creamy colour, and one of the last patterns
du Pacquier. It made fine hard-paste porcelainintroduced was widely copied; a small spray of
resembling Dresden in paste more than in design orcornflowers known as the "Chantilly sprig'. After being
coloring. Du Pacquier's factory faced continualowned for a few years by an Englishman named
difficulties; ware was costly to produce and much of itPotter the factory closed in 1800. The mark is a
too dear to find many purchasers. It is rare today. Incurved hunting-horn in red or blue.
1744 the factory was bought by the Austrian StateMennecy
and successful efforts were made to popularize itsThe factory best known by the name of Mennecy
products. This porcelain, known from its mark of awas started in 1734 in Paris, fourteen years later
shield in blue, finally evolved an individual style of heavilymoved outside the capital to Mennecy, and in 1773
gilded pieces painted carefully in the manner ofmoved finally to Bourg-la-Reine. The early wares are
miniatures. These were first made towards the end ofusually of a milky-white colour, with a 'wet-looking'
the eighteenth century, but were copied again andglaze and a slightly undulating surface; in very rare
again until the factory closed in 1864. Some of theinstances a tin-glaze, in imitation of that used at
modern and very garish imitations of this type ofChantilly, is found. All types of wares, including a
Vienna porcelain bears the printed 'signature' of thenumber of figures and groups, were painted in colors
artist; often that of the English painter, Angelicaand many show a particularly striking use of pink and
Kauffmann.bright blue. The mark comprises the letters 'D V',
Franceincised or in blue.
France Saint CloudFrance had a rich history of porcelain wares. The
Soft-paste porcelain is said to have been made atearliest accepted pieces are those made at Saint
Rouen as early as 1673, but although severalCloud at the end of the seventeenth century. They are
specimens have been brought forward as proof ofmostly of a creamy colour, but occasionally of a bluish
the statement they are not accepted generally aswhite, and all kinds of wares were made. Painting was
having been made there. The earliest accepted piecesin under-glaze blue and in colors. A soft-paste factory
are those made at Saint Cloud at the end of thefounded at Chantilly and made wares covered in an
seventeenth century. They are mostly of a creamyattractive glaze containing tin, which gave it a smooth,
colour, but occasionally of a bluish white, and all kindswhite, and distinctive appearance. And there were
of wares were made. Painting was in under-glaze bluemany marked wares found in the different part of the
and in colors, and much was in the popular Orientalcountry. They all show that there was a great
manner. Examples of the ware are not commonlyprogress in the earlier ages.