Over centuries, the Meissen manufactory has produced a wide variety of collectible figurines and themed porcelain series in the many historic styles since its founding. This rich tradition has its beginnings in the 18th century, fostered by the creativity of Meissen artists and a long tradition of sophisticated table décor. At that time, figurines made from sugar, marzipan or gum tragacanth were a must on the painstakingly decorated dining tables of aristocratic homes, lending a backdrop of subtle satire, hidden humour and secret messages to every feast.
With the invention of hard-paste porcelain in the mid-18th century, Meissen craftsmen usurped the confectioners, creating elaborate table decorations with a much longer life span than their predecessors. Porcelain figurines soon found a place in the vitrines of every prosperous home. This rise in demand sparked an unprecedented wealth within Meissen’s thematic repertoire, which besides religious and mythological motives as well as scenes from the Saxon court, by the mid-18th century, came to include depictions of folklore and everyday life. The porcelain cabinets and collections soon started to grow and become increasingly curated to express the elevated taste and level of culture of this newly formed league of porcelain collectors. The passion for collecting Meissen porcelain figurines was born that carries on today.