How to Date Dresden Lace Figurines

Turn your Dresden lace figurine upside down and look for a maker's mark stamped into the bottom. This may be highlighted with blue ink.

Compare these marks carefully with photographs in the catalogs or books to arrive at an approximate date of manufacture. Porcelain markings began showing up in the latter part of the 18th century. At that time, Georg Heinrich Macheleid's factory had exclusive rights to porcelain production in the principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. In 1795, the company catalog stated that 90 different figurines were available.

Consult authoritative illustrated texts and catalogs for comparing the mark on your figurine with those verified in the photos. Macheleid's factory lost its exclusive privileges to make the lace figurines in 1832, allowing other manufacturers to expand into this line. Proliferation of marks and dates began at this time.

Compare the marks carefully. Marks changed as consolidations took place in the industry. For example, the Volkstedt Porcelain works was merged into Porzellanfabrik Unterweissbach AG, established in 1882. This company continued to acquire a number of porcelain factories, replacing their markings with its own running fox emblem. Volkstedt merged with Porzellanfabrik Unterweissbach AG in 1909, and its distinctive mark disappeared shortly thereafter.

Consult a catalog or book to compare any changes in the markings to narrow down a manufacturing date. A crown with the letters "MV" under it indicates it was made by the Mueller-Volksted works, a smaller factory in operation from about 1832 to 1945. This factory was destroyed in the Allied firebombing of Dresden during World War II. Rebuilt and using some of the original molds, operations were moved eventually to Ireland where production continues.