Dresden Plates & Their Namesake Quilts

By Jubilee P. Reid

Located in eastern Germany, on the banks of the River Elbe, is the centuries-old city of Dresden. This prestigious city is the capital of the German state of Saxony and has a rich history, particularly related to porcelain.

In the late 1700s, Dresden became the heart of the German Romanticism movement, attracting many artists and philosophers. The city came to be known as the cultural and educational center of Germany and was the central hub of Rococo-style porcelain production from the early 18^th century to the mid-20^th century.

The history of Dresden porcelain is closely aligned with that of the nearby town of Meissen. This town was the first in Europe to produce “hard-paste porcelain,” or, as it is sometimes called, “true porcelain.” This durable type of china was made with kaolin or “china clay” along with other compounds. Deposits of kaolin clay could be found around the town. Meissen held the monopoly on this fine china from 1710 until 1719 when two of their craftsmen were paid by a competitor to produce porcelain at a factory in Vienna using the formerly secret recipe.

The oldest pieces of “Dresden porcelain” were actually cast and fired in Meissen. The unfinished wares were then shipped approximately 16 miles southeast to be hand painted by Dresden’s many skilled porcelain painters before being sold. This is the reason many pieces of Dresden china are stamped with two locations: where they were made and where they were painted. The first company to fully produce china in Dresden was not founded until the latter half of the 1800s.

Between 1855 and 1944 there were over 200 porcelain painting shops in Dresden. Since the same designs were often used by multiple painters, many of the painters created their own marks to distinguish their work from that of others. Dresden porcelain is known for its floral paintings, elaborately gilded pierced borders, and its translucency. 

Much information concerning the history of Dresden porcelain has been lost due to extensive firebombings of the city during World War II. Nearly all museums and painting studios were destroyed including most records of the porcelain industry. Dresden never recovered its former status as a center of porcelain production after the war as it was under Soviet control for many years.

Displayed in a temporary exhibit in Gallery One of the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum are three pieces of Dresden fine porcelain. These exquisite plates are hand painted with brightly colored florals and gilded decorations. The edges of two of the plates have finely patterned cutouts called “reticulation,” a time consuming and difficult technique.

One of the displayed plates is from the popular Chateau Dresden-Royal Dresner Art line produced by a porcelain company founded by Christian Heinrich Schumann in Arzberg, Bavaria in 1881. Kaolin deposits discovered north of the town led to porcelain becoming Arzberg’s main industry. Schumann’s company changed names many times and, although he died only three years after its founding, the company was continually owned by his family until 1990. The stamp on the museum’s piece dates it to between 1932 and 1944. This plate is stamped with both “Bavaria” and “Dresden” indicating that it was shipped to Dresden to be painted. This elaborate plate, measuring 9.25 inches across, features an iris and other flowers painted in the center as well as an elaborate pierced trim.

The pieces on display at the museum are examples of the china for which Dresden was famous. This ornate porcelain was the inspiration for the “Dresden Plate” quilt pattern, which was popular in the 1920s and 30s. However, variations of the pattern, such as the “Dresden Plate Fan,” existed in the 1890s.

The Dresden Plate quilt pattern is made of 16 to 20 wedge-shaped pieces of fabric, sewn together to form a circle. This circular block is then appliqued to a background fabric and usually a small circle of fabric is appliqued to the center of the wheel. The spokes (or blades) of the circle can be pointed or rounded on the outer edges. Alternately, the spokes can be shaped to form a perfect circle when completed. These plates can be used to form a variety of finished quilt designs.

Several Dresden Plate quilts are displayed in the museum’s exhibit. One of these is a sunny yellow quilt featuring 30 Dresden Plate blocks with sashing between them. Each plate is comprised of 15 rounded blades, an unusual number. The plates are appliqued to the yellow background with black thread, and they do not have a center circle which allows the yellow fabric to show through. This piece is hand quilted with closely spaced lines.

These quilts and porcelain are intricate examples of the work of skilled artisans from history. Come to the museum to see these incredible works of art that will be on display until the end of August.