The history of porcelain figurines started in 1709. In this year, hard porcelain was invented in Meissen, Germany. August the Strong commissioned the sculpting of many animals of life sized proportions in order to populate his baroque palace, “Japanische Palais” in 1920. Many artisans were brought in to design models.
By the mid 1700s, J.J. Kandler, a Meissen factory sculptor, was manipulating plastic to fashion decorations for dinner services. This led to decorating the tables of the elite with “Kleinsplastik” which were often figures of Harlequins or other characters from Italian comedies. As a result of this popularity, the manufacture of these porcelain figures quickly became the most important, as well as profitable, activity in Meissen. The design and manufacturing processes of these early porcelain figurines were closely guarded.
At about the mid 18th century, wars and internal spying helped to spread the secrets of making and decorating porcelain and they became known throughout Europe. In fact, by 1780, there were more than thirty new factories that specialized in the manufacture of porcelain figurines, including many of the courts of Europe. Many of the most famous sculptors of the era reveled in designing porcelain figurines with this miraculous new medium.
For the next century, the porcelain figurine industry exploded as Europe saw the establishment of more than 1000 new porcelain factories. Production of porcelain figurines shifted into high gear, many times with little regard for quality. As an example, during this time period, the acquisition of porcelain figurines was for the first time not just limited to the wealthy. Innovative and new artistic designs and techniques were deemed less important than profits during this time.
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Bisque copies of both ancient and more modern statues were popular during this time. Many of the older porcelain factories began making bisque copies of their own earlier designs. Most of these copies are adorned with different marks in order to distinguish them from the original and more valuable items. This was also the era in which many of the smaller porcelain factories were manufacturing porcelain figurines marked falsely with the imprints of the larger and more well known porcelain factories.
By the early 1900s, the process of mass production had been embraced. As a result, many porcelain figurines, both fine porcelain figurines and cheap porcelain figurines, could now be found in many homes across the globe. Porcelain figurines were essential to many people's interior decorating schemes.
With that, the Art Nouveau style was ushered in. Royal Copenhagen enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide. Many other porcelain factories such as Wedgwood, Minton, and Worcester engaged in producing porcelain figurines in the same style. The Art Deco style flowed from the Art Nouveau style. Most of the porcelain factories released porcelain figurines as this design complemented them.
Because of the high labor costs involved and the limited number of skilled artists, porcelain figurines that are of a high quality are produced by only a few factories and in very limited numbers. Of course, this very fact makes the porcelain figurines that are produced highly collectible just as the early versions are.
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