Dresden Cake Plate

Q: I’m trying to find out more about this plate. It’s marked “Dresden” underneath with intertwined letters. Can you tell me who made it?

A: Dresden, Germany, has been home to many porcelain decorating studios since the early 1700s. In the early years, some porcelain was made in Dresden. But most porcelain marked “Dresden” was made by Meissen and other factories and decorated in Dresden. Decorations were often like those on Meissen. A mark similar to this with script letters “S” and “P” intertwined was used by Saxonian Porcelain Factory Carl Thieme beginning in 1901. The factory was in business near Dresden in Potschappel, Saxony, Germany, from 1872 to 1972. It became Saxonian Porcelain Manufactory Dresden in 1972 and is still in business.

 

Dresden Lamb Mark

Q: What can you tell me about this double-handled, monogrammed, and dated teacup? I have two of them and their matching saucers. They are marked with a lamb and “Dresden” over “60M.” They belonged to a family member, now deceased. Are they old?

A: This mark was used by Ambrosius Lamm, a decorator who opened a studio in Dresden, Germany, in 1887. He decorated porcelain made by the famous manufacturers in Meissen, Germany. He is known for decorating in both the Meissen and Vienna styles. His unique monogram, a figural lamb over the word “Dresden,” was often used on ceramics along with either the crossed swords Meissen mark or blue beehive Vienna mark. When Lamm retired in 1934, his daughter took over the business and continued to operate it until 1949. The two handles on your dishes show that they are not cups and saucers but dessert or cream soups sets. The fancy decoration suggests they are worth $35 a set, but the monogram makes the sets hard to sell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dresden and Crown

Q: My husband’s grandparents owned these porcelain ewers and gave them to him about 40 years ago. The ewers are 22 1/4 inches tall and are marked with a crown and the word “Dresden.” Can you tell me who made them and how old they are?

A: Over 40 porcelain decorating studios operated in Dresden in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Meissen Royal Manufactory made most of the porcelain. The crown Dresden mark was registered by four different companies in 1883: Donath & Co. (1872-1916), Adolf Hamann (1866-c.1949), Richard Klemm (1869-1916), and Oswald Lorenz (c.1880-). There were only slight variations in the marks. This mark looks like one used by Adolph Hamann c.1905-c.1949 or by Richard Klemm c.1893-1916. Your ewers appear from the picture to be partially decorated with decals. They were probably made in the twentieth century.