Blue Onion: Difference between revisions

 

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[[File:Teller Zwiebelmuster.jpg|thumb|Original ”Zwiebelmuster” Meissen porcelain plate]]

[[File:Teller Zwiebelmuster.jpg|thumb|Original ”Zwiebelmuster” Meissen porcelain plate]]

[[Image:Blue Onion Pattern.jpg|thumb|Pieces of table ware with blue onion pattern produced by different German manufacturers around 1900]]

[[Image:Blue Onion Pattern.jpg|thumb|Pieces of table ware with blue onion pattern produced by different German manufacturers around 1900]]

”’Blue Onion”’ (German: ”Zwiebelmuster”) is a [[porcelain]] [[tableware]] pattern for dishware originally manufactured by [[Meissen porcelain]] since the 18th century, and since the last 19th Century has been copied by other companies.

”’Blue Onion”’ (German: ”Zwiebelmuster”) is a [[porcelain]] [[tableware]] pattern for dishware originally manufactured by [[Meissen porcelain]] since the 18th century, and since the 19th Century has been copied by other companies.

==History==

==History==

The “onion” pattern was originally named the “bulb” pattern.[http://www.kovels.com/priceguide/kovels_onion/ Kovels: Onion Pattern] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630054553/http://www.kovels.com/priceguide/kovels_onion/ |date=June 30, 2007 }}

The “onion” pattern was originally named the “bulb” pattern.[http://www.kovels.com/priceguide/kovels_onion/ Kovels: Onion Pattern] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630054553/http://www.kovels.com/priceguide/kovels_onion/ |date=June 30, 2007 }}

While modelled after a pattern first produced by [[Chinese porcelain]] painters, which featured [[pomegranate]]s unfamiliar in Saxony, the plates and bowls produced in the Meissen factory in 1740 produced their own style and feel. Among the earliest Chinese examples are underglaze blue and white porcelains of the early [[Ming Dynasty]]. The Meissen painters created hybrids that resembled flora more familiar to Europeans. The so-called “onions” are not onions at all, but, according to historians, are most likely mutations of the [[peach]]es and [[pomegranate]]s modelled on the original Chinese pattern. The design is a grouping of several floral motifs, with [[peony|peonies]] and [[Aster (genus)|asters]] in the pattern’s centre, and winding stems around a [[bamboo]] stalk.

While modelled after a pattern first produced by [[Chinese porcelain]] painters, which featured [[pomegranate]]s unfamiliar in Saxony, the plates and bowls produced in the Meissen factory in 1740 their own style and feel. Among the earliest Chinese examples are underglaze blue and white porcelains of the early [[Ming Dynasty]]. The Meissen painters created hybrids that resembled flora more familiar to Europeans. The so-called “onions” are not onions at all, but, according to historians, are most likely mutations of the [[peach]]es and [[pomegranate]]s modelled on the original Chinese pattern. The design is a grouping of several floral motifs, with [[peony|peonies]] and [[Aster (genus)|asters]] in the pattern’s centre, and winding stems around a [[bamboo]] stalk.

Before the end of the 18th century, other porcelain factories were copying the Meissen ”Zwiebelmuster”. In the 19th century almost all the European manufactories offered a version, with [[Transfer printing|transfer-printed]] outlines that were coloured in by hand. [[Enoch Wedgwood]]’s pattern in the 1870s was known as “Meissen”. Today, a Japanese version called “Blue Danube” is well-known and featured amongst tableware patterns.“Blue Danube” is number 7 in “Appendix A: 100 Most Popular Patterns” listed from the records of Replacements.com and illustrated in Shax Riegler. 2011. ”Dish: 813 Colorful, Wonderful Dinner Plates” pp256ff.

Before the end of the 18th century, other porcelain factories were copying the Meissen ”Zwiebelmuster”. In the 19th century almost all the European manufactories offered a version, with [[Transfer printing|transfer-printed]] outlines that were coloured in by hand. [[Enoch Wedgwood]]’s pattern in the 1870s was known as “Meissen”. Today, a Japanese version called “Blue Danube” is well-known and featured tableware patterns.“Blue Danube” is number 7 in “Appendix A: 100 Most Popular Patterns” listed from the records of Replacements.com and illustrated in Shax Riegler. 2011. ”Dish: 813 Colorful, Wonderful Dinner Plates” pp256ff.

== Characteristics ==

== Characteristics ==

Porcelain dishware design

Blue Onion (German: Zwiebelmuster) is a porcelain tableware pattern for dishware originally manufactured by Meissen porcelain since the 18th century, and since the late 19th…