Meissen porcelain marks are often associated with the history of underglazed blue mark of two swords that are crossed. Although this is not always the case, in many instances, the two crossed swords is a Meissen porcelain mark.
Though the Meissen porcelain factory began in 1710 under the heavy guard and protection of King Augustus II of Poland, Meissen porcelain marks were not used until 1723. The use of unique Meissen porcelain marks was an attempt to reduce the likelihood that people would think that some forgeries were the work of the Meissen factory.
The first of the Meissen porcelain marks to be used were marked in a blue underglaze. This mark was the initials KPM which stood for the Konigliche Porzellan Manufaktur. There were two crossed swords that were used under the initials. At around 1725, the Meissen porcelain marks were simply the pair of crossed swords that are slightly curved.
Beginning in 1732 until about 1773, the Meissen porcelain mark continued to feature a pair of crossed swords. There was the addition of a dot that was placed between the handles of the swords. This dot came to be called the dot-period. The dot-period signified the Meissen porcelain factory's move toward the style of the neo classical when making its porcelain wares.
In 1774, Count Camillo Marcolini became the director of the Meissen porcelain factory. From then until 1814, was known as the Marcollini period at the Meissen porcelain factory. The Meissen porcelain mark that was used during the Marcollini period was also marked in blue underglaze. The crossed swords were featured as well as an asterisk between the handles of the swords.
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The year 1814 saw the Meissen porcelain marks change once again. While the crossed swords remained the same, the blades of the swords were straight rather than curved slightly. There was also a vertical bar between the handles of the swords. Starting in 1825 and lasting until about 1924, Meissen porcelain marks began to appear that featured the crossed swords in blue. The handles of the swords were curved as well as the blades of the swords.
Between 1924 and 1934, the Meissen porcelain mark continued to have the double crossed swords with the curved blades and handles. There was the addition of a dot in between the blades of the swords in this version though. A mark with the crossed swords with the straightened blades and a crescent under the handles was used for Meissen porcelain between 1945 and 1947.
Since 1947, the Meissen porcelain mark has been the slightly curved swords blades that are crossed with the straight sword handles. Beginning in 1974, however, the Meissen porcelain mark also included the Meissen name written in script underneath the crossed swords.
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