A refined Meissen porcelain coffee service for six, decorated in the celebrated Zwiebelmuster, or “Blue Onion,” pattern, hand-painted in rich underglaze cobalt blue over fine white porcelain.
The service brings together elegant molded forms, scrolling handles and the distinctive botanical motifs that have made Blue Onion one of Meissen’s most recognizable patterns. At its centre is an exceptional large rococo-style serving tray, richly modeled with pierced handles, shell motifs and scrolling rocaille borders, framing an elaborate Blue Onion composition.
First introduced by Meissen in 1731 and inspired by East Asian blue-and-white porcelain, the Zwiebelmuster pattern became one of the manufactory’s most enduring designs. The pieces bear the Meissen crossed-swords mark in underglaze blue. Variations among the marks show that the service brings together pieces from different periods: the earliest marks date to the late 19th or early 20th century, while the tray was produced later in the 20th century.
Key Features
Origin: Meissen, Saxony, Germany
Maker: Meissen
Pattern: Zwiebelmuster / Blue Onion
Period: Late 19th to early 20th century
Material: Hard-paste porcelain
Decoration: Hand-painted in underglaze cobalt blue
Markings: Meissen crossed swords in underglaze blue; additional impressed and incised production marks
Set Includes: 1 coffee pot with lid, 1 creamer, 1 covered sugar bowl, 6 cups, 6 saucers and 1 large rococo-style serving tray
Total: 16 pieces
Coffee Cups: H 6.5 × W 6 × D 9 cm
Saucers: H 4 × W 11.5 × L 13 cm
Creamer: H 12 × W 9 × D 12.5 cm
Sugar Bowl: H 9 × W 10 × D 11 cm
Coffee Pot: H 20 × W 11.5 × D 17 cm
Serving Tray: H 4.5 × W 41 × L 41 cm
Condition: Very good vintage condition, consistent with age. A small loss to one floral finial is visible; please refer to the photos for details.
A distinguished Meissen coffee service, pairing one of Europe’s most iconic blue-and-white porcelain patterns with an exceptionally large and decorative rococo serving tray.
Disclaimer: All our products are vintage or antique items that have been previously used and loved. As such, they may display signs of age, wear, imperfections, or minor defects that add to their unique charm and authenticity. Some items in our collection have been carefully restored or preserved, while others have been left in their original untouched condition to honor their history and character. We invite you to appreciate the stories these timeless pieces carry.
