Blue Onion

Onion is called on porcelain a cobalt blue underglaze decoration. It is the most successful blue decoration of porcelain history.

Origin

The Onion has been developed from 1730 Far Eastern models. One of the oldest examples is the blue-white porcelain of the early Ming period in 1420 .. It was one of the first pattern of the factory at Meissen. By 1740 it was taken over by various Fayencefabriken, but only around 1768 of other porcelain manufacturers - first from the KPM Berlin. The term " onion pattern " broke in 1850 the hitherto customary designations as " ordinaire Mahlerey " and " Ordinair blue " from. This pattern was not very popular in the 18th century and was hardly produces 1790-1830. Since 1860 it belonged to wealthy citizens circles in Germany rigueur to possess an Onion service. Trousseau lists this time recommend as a minimum seven dozen cups with plates.

The Onion is in truth no onions is, but pomegranates and peaches - symbols of fertility and longevity. The Meissen onion pattern emerged after a little differently structured Chinese model, which included the three blessed fruits: peach, pomegranate and lemon ( a striped melon and lemon tiger as a fruit variant). In the Meissen design latter merged incorrectly with the pomegranate to the onion.

Botanical motifs

The original Onion Decor is divided into three motifs according to the plate layout: mirror, flags and valley motif. These motifs can be botanically only imprecisely, because even tended Asian models for stylization and the Meissen painters this stylization still reinforced by abstraction. Despite some variations, the basic motives to this day remain distinctive.

• The mirror motif consists of a chrysanthemum branch, a bamboo stalk and a creeper, which grow up from a plaice. The large chrysanthemum flower surrounded dotted stamens, another is undeveloped shown in side view. The creeper drives Prunusblüten (possibly peach, apricot, plum or almond blossoms ). In the middle is a double serrated blade and a Päonienstaude - probably a peony cultivated for over 1000 years, China's national flower.

• The Eagle motif ( the border ) consists of lotus flowers and climbing plants that were running like a garland in Meissen. This developed into the now common, schematized " tuft edge ".
• The flag motif originally consisted of three fruits: peach, pomegranate and melon. The supplementary peonies were in Meissen fantasy formations, and the big three leaves in between were left with time, often lack even the pomegranate. Botanical contradictions in the representation fruits are attributed to the painter handwriting - such as the sometimes transferred from the pomegranate on the Peach Aufplatzungen, who transferred from the pomegranate on the melon cup rest or the number of stems on the melon.

Success by Design

The success of the Onion designs is due to its flexibility. The combination of twigs, vines, flowers and fruits can be decorative applied onto surfaces of every size and shape. Due to the large series can be damaged or to replace or supplement missing pieces. An Onion service can changed eating habits to be adjusted. As in the mid- 19th century, the coffee into an independent meal in the second half of the day was the cake plate (middle plate ) could be introduced as a complement to coffee cup with saucer. Previously pastries were served as dessert passage of a multi-course meal on dishes or eaten by small crystal plates.

Product variety

Only in the 19th century over 1000 different products were decorated with the Meissen onion pattern: vessels, place settings, utensils, kitchen appliances. Already at that time it appeared on coffee cloths, napkins and even stationery. Meanwhile, all kinds of manufacturers and tin cans, towels, curtains, electric egg cooker and much more offered in this decor - but only the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory has been authorized since 1888, the swords fit in the bottom of the bamboo plant. Variants in other colors were often given new names.

Production

The detailed pattern is at the Meissen porcelain factory painted to date by hand. In other factories the transfer process was introduced in the 19th century.

Provider

In addition to the Meissen factory, the manufactory is known Teichert (Civic Meissen ), the first produced in Meissen and had operated a branch in Eichwald (Bohemia ). Since the beginning of the 20th century Onion ceramics were known by Hutschenreuther Selb from.

More producers and labels, under which the Onion Decor is offered, are Villeroy & Boch, Winterling (formerly Oscar Schaller & Co.), Triptis, Kahla (2 designs ), Alt Mitterteich, Zehendner Tirschenreuth, Tettau Bavaria, Marienbad, Wellco, Sandra Rich, GEPO Royal Mainhausen, Gerold porcelain Bavaria, Schumann Bavaria, Carlsbad ( Bohemia ), Harmonia Crivisa (Spain ), Cluj -Napoca (Romania) and also Blue Danube ( Japan).