As early as the 13th century, porcelain was a highly coveted item in the royal courts of Europe and was imported from China at extravagant prices. Attempts were made starting from the early 18th century to reproduce the “White Gold” in Europe, with alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger finding success in Meissen in 1708 under commission from Saxony’s royal court. That discovery marked the beginning of a legend that was sealed two years later with the founding of the “Royal-Polish and Electoral-Saxon Porcelain Manufactory” by royal decree of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony, in Meissen’s Albrechtsburg palace. The Crossed Swords from the royal crest, the cobalt blue trademark of the manufactory, testify to its porcelain quality since 1722. As the oldest porcelain manufactory in Europe, the Meissen manufactory occupies a special position among the porcelain manufactories around the world. Its figurines, large sculptures, table services and porcelain objects have shaped the course of porcelain history. Its world renown is founded on its craftsmanship and technical expertise as well as its rich artistic tradition: Starting in Meissen’s Baroque era, which laid the groundwork for European porcelain design, to its iconic floral embellishments and “Onion Pattern”, that wrote decoration history, all the way to its animal sculptures of the 20th century. In every era, the Meissen manufactory has brought forth some of the most revered porcelain artists of their time, whose masterpieces to this day are still recreated in the manufactory workshops using the same artisanal techniques. These pieces not only reflect the immense breadth of artistic eras, but also the boundless creativity and artistic inquisitiveness that stoke the workings at MEISSEN to this day.