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Swiss Porcelain

Collection Info
Swiss Porcelain

As the secret of porcelain spread throughout Europe, two porcelain manufactories were established in Switzerland. These independent enterprises were short-lived, being constantly challenged by the lack of aristocratic patronage, the low demand for luxury goods in a protestant society, and the high cost of production.

The first factory was established in Kilchberg-Schooren near Zurich in 1763 by a group of ambitious citizens who united to invest in the local industry and to promote large-scale artistic enterprise. The factory produced faïence and soft-paste porcelain before introducing hard-paste porcelain in 1765. The company dissolved in 1791. In 1781, two porcelain painters founded a second factory in the small town of Nyon near Geneva with a similar goal in mind; limiting foreign imports by producing high quality tableware that would respond to the local taste. The factory was active for 30 years and, as in Zurich, produced less expensive types of faïence in order to remain profitable.

Both factories sought to respond to the restrained tastes of their protestant clientele through simple forms and sober styles of decoration. The small group of pieces in the Gardiner Museum’s collection were once part of the Hans Syz collection.

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Plate with parma violets
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1782-1785
Object number: G96.5.411
Tea bowl and saucer with "Imortelle" pattern
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1780
Object number: G96.5.412a-b
Saucer
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1785-1790
Object number: G96.5.413
Custard cup (pot a jus) with pansies and roses
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1790
Object number: G96.5.414a-b
Cup and saucer with "cornflower" pattern
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1790
Object number: G96.5.415a-b
Covered pot a jus with "cornflower" pattern
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1785-1790
Object number: G96.5.416a-b
Covered pot a jus with white and gold decoration
Artist / Maker: Nyon Porcelain Manufactory
c.1790
Object number: G96.5.417a-b
Figure of a boy playing a flute
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.419
Girl with a Watch
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.420
Gardener with Watering Can
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.421
Figural group of three Turkish figures
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.422
Saucer with river scene
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.423
Milk jug with "blaublumchenmuster"
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.424a-b
Oval platter with landscape
Artist / Maker: Adam Spengler
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.425
Tea bowl with landscape
Artist / Maker: Adam Spengler
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.426a-b
Tea bowl and saucer with landscapes
Artist / Maker: Adam Spengler
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.427a-b
Milk jug with "Deutsche Blumen"
Artist / Maker: Adam Spengler
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.428a-b
Bowl with "Deutsche Blumen"
Artist / Maker: Adam Spengler
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.429
Plate with flowers
Artist / Maker: Adam Spengler
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.430
Oval platter with "Chrysanthemenemuster"
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.431
Teapot with "Deutsche Blumen"
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.432a-b
Pair of cups and saucers with "Deutsche Blumen"
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.433.1a-b-2a-b
Pair of candelabra from the Einsiedler service
Artist / Maker: Zurich Porcelain Factory
c.1775-1776
Object number: G96.5.434.1-2