The legendary Meissen porcelain is not only known as “White Gold” in Germany, but is also known around the world for its valuable and exquisite handicrafts. Whether plate, vase or sculpture, all unique Meissen pieces have their origins in the Saxon cultural city of Meissen and are still produced nowadays with the same attention to detail as over 300 years ago.

Guests get an exclusive look behind the scenes during a VIP day at the Meissen Theme World!

We tested the experience for you and in this article you will find out whether it’s worth it!

The “White Gold” …

The history of the Meissen porcelain manufactory dates back to 1710 and was founded by Augustus the Strong, the art-loving Elector of Saxony. He was so enchanted by the beauty of Chinese porcelain that he hired the alchemist and chemist Johann Friedrich Böttger to create gold so that the Elector could continue to finance his passion for collecting porcelain. After several years of miserable attempts, Böttger, together with the mathematician and physicist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus, the mining official Gottfried Pabst von Ohain and local miners, came up with a better solution: they uncovered the precious secret of porcelain production. Böttger and the research group thus created “White Gold” from Saxon white kaolin! This was not only the birth of European porcelain, but Meissen porcelain was already setting new standards in terms of craftsmanship and perfection in porcelain production and processing back in the days. To ensure this special quality and artistry, a brand symbol was soon established as a mark of authenticity, which still exists today: The famous crossed swords, which are borrowed from the Electoral Saxon coat of arms.

Today, Meissen stands for the fusion of art, tradition and craftsmanship that began over 300 years ago. During our visit, we were able to experience this at first hand:

An exclusive look behind the scenes at the Meissen porcelain manufactory

The special thing about this customized day is that it can be designed entirely according to your wishes. No matter whether you prefer to look over the shoulders of the master artisans or become artistically active yourself. And of course you get access to secret places that are not open to the public.

As the tour can be conducted in various languages, including English, Japanese and Chinese, it is also a unique experience for international guests.

Behind The Scenes Manufactory Tour

During the private VIP reception, we were first offered a welcome drink – served in style, of course, in champagne cups made from Meissen porcelain.

I was most looking forward to gain a behind the scenes insight into the production of the artworks. Where does the “White Gold” come from, what is it made of and what makes these fine pieces so unique and valuable?

All these questions will be answered during the private Behind The Scenes Manufactory Tour, an exclusive insight into the historic workshops of the Meissen porcelain manufactory.

The journey from the mine to the unique Meissen piece…

It all begins with the extraction of white kaolin from the company’s own mine in Saxony. It is the smallest mine in Europe and is operated by just two miners! The fine kaolin powder for the Meissen manufactory has been mined in Seilitz since 1764. This is characterized by its unique purity and is the reason for the remarkably radiant white color of Meissen porcelain. We then experience the processing of the liquid porcelain mass. It is incredible to feel with your own hands how the fine kaolin powder trickles through your fingers and blends into a soft mass in the water. After the kaolin has been washed out, the so-called “kaolin milk” is placed in a basin for several weeks, in which the kaolin settles and is mixed with other finely ground raw materials to produce the liquid porcelain paste.

300 years of manual work

Then we enter the hallowed halls of production. Anyone expecting assembly lines and modern machines here is far from the truth. Instead, we experience how the tradition of original production is preserved and carried out by hand. The porcelain passes through various stages to be created to perfection by artisans. Casting in the plaster molds alone is an art in itself, followed by assembling the individual pieces into a complete object: this is done thanks to a craft that can hardly be found anywhere else in the world, as it is very complex, requires special skills and years of experience: During the embossing process, the various individual parts of an artwork are assembled by hand using liquid porcelain paste in a delicate way so that in the end the figure appears to be made from a single piece and all the parts merge together seamlessly. Small details such as flowers or other decorations are formed piece by piece by hand and then garnished onto the figurine.

Finest brushwork

I could have watched the incredibly talented painters for hours. Every brushstroke is perfect. This guarantees that the different designs, even though they are hand-painted, look uniform in the end. Depending on the piece, a painter may spend several days or even weeks on just one work of art. Even the crossed swords, the trademark and seal of quality of the porcelain, are drawn by hand on each individual piece. A job that can and may only be carried out by certain painters.

The secrets of the archive of the molds

My personal highlight of the Behind The Scenes Manufactory Tour was the visit to the historical mold archive, where almost 800,000 plaster molds have been sorted, archived and stored since the 18th century. This means that it is possible to reproduce the image of many porcelain works at any time, even if they were designed over 100 years ago. One of the oldest molds is the figure of St. Peter from 1736!

New & Top Secret

We then took an exclusive look at project development and visited the sculptor Max Hagstotz in his studio, where he works on new and top-secret projects and carefully designs the sculptures for new forms. It was incredibly impressive to see this up close. Max Hagstotz is the artist who spent 15 months creating the bust of Marilyn Monroe for the Meissen x Michael Moebius “Legends Blowing Bubbles – Collection”. The beautiful end result, into which so much effort and detailed dedication has gone, is shown below.

The new sculptures are of course top secret, and as some of the porcelain pieces have not yet been officially released, I can’t show you any other photos from the studio unfortunately. You have to visit yourself  to see more

Culinary delights

After the impressive Behind The Scenes Manufactory Tour, a break of a special kind awaited us: each VIP tour includes an exclusive meal in a unique setting – served on the finest Meissen porcelain. Anything from two to seven courses is possible here, and the chef also tailors the menu to the visitors’ preferences. Traditional dishes from Saxony are particularly popular, which are prepared and served in a modern way and with a “certain something”. We also opted for three courses from Saxon cuisine. The finest Saxon wines are carefully selected to accompany them. The location of the fine dining can be chosen depending on the weather and your preference. We opted for the museum’s clock cabinet, where Meissen porcelain from the last three centuries is on display. An exquisite and unforgettable experience with delicious food and a unique ambience.

The Meissen Porcelain Museum

We didn’t want to miss out on a guided tour of the museum in Meissen theme world. It is impressive to see how much history is behind every piece. During our private VIP tour, we were shown very special treasures with a unique background story. Such as the porcelain zoo of Augustus the Strong, consisting of huge animal figures.

On request, it is also possible to visit the museum’s archive exclusively, as only a small part of the museum’s treasures are on display in the museum – otherwise the number of exhibits would exceed the scope of the exhibition. Many treasures therefore remain hidden from regular visitors, but can be discovered during the special tour.

Do It Yourself Meissen Mug

One of the highlights of the VIP tour for me was painting my own mug from Meissen porcelain! What looks so easy when watching the master porcelain painters actually requires a lot of practice. Nevertheless, it was great to try it out for myself and thanks to the guidance of an experienced painter, the underglaze paint was easy to apply. The cobalt blue initially appears as a shade of gray on the porcelain, which is still porous, and transforms into the typical Meissen shade of blue after firing and develops its full luminosity. As soon as our cups are glazed and fired, they are sent to us by post and are then a very special memento of our day at the Meissen World of Experience.

Meissen porcelain VIP Shopping

Another exclusive part of the experience is VIP shopping in the Meissen Theme World. Here you can choose from numerous porcelain pieces – including limited editions and rare collector’s items that are only available here! In a private and elegant setting, surrounded by impressive pieces, we were advised by an expert who gave us an insight into the history and special features of each piece.

After experiencing the production process, I appreciate the unique craftsmanship of Meissen even more. We experienced first-hand how much time and effort goes into each masterpiece. I was particularly impressed by one of the latest designs from the Meissen porcelain manufactory: The bust of Marilyn Monroe for the MEISSEN x Michael Moebius “Legends Blowing Bubbles – Collection”, which was created based on the well-known painting by the Saxon artist Michael Möbius. The result is unique and once again demonstrates the fine craftsmanship of the Meissen porcelain manufactory. The Marilyn busts are strictly limited and can be purchased on request.

Résumé of our exclusive tour at Meissen theme world

What a unique experience! Meissen porcelain not only enchants with its delicate beauty, but especially with its deep roots in history and tradition. The special insight behind the scenes of the Meissen porcelain manufactory during the exclusive tour was the most interactive and individual tour I have ever experienced. We experienced numerous highlights that normally remain hidden!

The exclusive and completely individually designed program of Meissen theme world is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a world that combines tradition, pleasure and luxury in an unparalleled way. It is an absolute must for anyone who is looking for something special and appreciates artistic craftsmanship.

The exclusive tours can only be booked on request by emailing tourismus@meissen.com and are individually arranged for each guest. 

→ All information about Meissen theme world can be found here!

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