Exquisite Meissen Art Nouveau relief gilt decorated porcelain dish c1890. Sinuous design of flowering Morning Glory in relief, sumptuously gilt decorated on a white ground. Gilt decoration in both matt and polished finishes to accentuate the design. Unusual piece displaying the renown Meissen craftsmanship in its execution. Cobalt blue painted Meissen mark used between 1815 and 1924 together with impressed marks. The dish measures 28.5 cm in diameter and 5 cm in height.
 
The production of porcelain in the royal factory at Meissen, near Dresden, started in 1710 and was the first European hard-paste porcelain to be produced. Its signature logo, the crossed swords, was introduced in 1720 to protect its production – reportedly one of the oldest trademarks in existence. Variations in the logo allow approximate dating of the wares. With royal support from its inception, Meissen attracted artists and artisans to establish one of the most famous porcelain manufacturers in Europe. Meissen remained a dominant European porcelain factory and has remained a leading factory to the present day.