Recognising Meissen porcelain: reading the crossed swords mark
Few porcelain marks are searched for – or misattributed – as often as Meissen’s crossed swords. When a piece with this mark arrives, we first turn it over. Here is what we look at.
1. Hand-painted swords beneath the glaze
Founded in Saxony in 1710, Meissen was Europe’s first manufacturer of hard-paste porcelain. Since the 1720s, its crossed swords have been painted by hand in cobalt blue under the glaze. Small differences between marks are therefore normal; the mark lies under the glaze rather than sitting on top.
2. Grinding marks: check the quality grade
Meissen uses grinding marks for quality classification. The manufacturer describes one line beneath the mark for second quality; several may indicate damaged or faulty ware. Position, number and age need to be considered together. A grinding mark alone does not prove authenticity. We record visible marks in the object details.
3. Beware of similar marks
Other makers used crossed lines, swords with additions or overglaze marks. “Dresden” is not another name for Meissen; it can refer to different decorating studios and manufacturers. A mark alone is insufficient: body, decoration and shape must fit too.
4. What “attributed to Meissen” means here
If we cannot identify a mark confidently, we describe the piece as attributed to Meissen and show the base mark in a separate photo. You can compare it or ask before buying. This is not an expert authentication; for valuable pieces, seek a specialist’s assessment.