Swan Service facts for kids
The Swan Service (in German: Schwanenservice) is a very large and fancy set of baroque Meissen porcelain. It was created for Heinrich von Brühl, who was the most important minister for King Augustus III of Poland. King Augustus made Brühl the boss of the Meissen porcelain factory in 1733.
This service is known as "the most famous" and "most fabulous" porcelain ever made at Meissen. Three main designers and artists, Johann Joachim Kändler, Johann Friedrich Eberlein, and Johann Gottlieb Ehder, worked on it. They created over 2,200 individual pieces between 1737 and 1742.
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What Makes the Swan Service Special?
The Swan Service was huge and had amazing sculpted details. No other porcelain set before it was this grand. For example, another big Meissen service made later had fewer than 1,000 pieces.
The special thing about the Swan Service is its unique decoration. Each plate or flat piece has a background with wavy lines that look like a scallop shell. In the middle, you can see two swans floating on water among bullrushes. A crane is flying down to join another crane standing nearby. The standing crane holds a fish in its beak.
The name "Brühl" in German means a wet, marshy place. So, the design of the service was a clever play on its owner's name, showing a watery scene.
In 1738, Kändler, one of the artists, spent time studying shells. He wanted to make sure the designs looked as natural as possible. Meissen was famous for these detailed backgrounds.
Different Pieces and Designs
The Swan Service includes many different types of items. There are large, fancy centerpieces and many tureens (large serving bowls). It also has candelabra, teapots, cups, and even wall lights.
The decorations mostly show water themes. You can see creatures from both fresh water and the sea. Some parts of the service even show characters from old Greek and Roman myths. For example, you might see Glaucus or Galatea riding a dolphin.
Almost every piece of the original service has the coat of arms of Heinrich von Brühl and his wife painted on it. This showed that the set belonged to them. Other decorations include gold edges and small painted flowers.
The Story of the Swan Service
Heinrich von Brühl was a very loyal minister. Because he was in charge of the Meissen factory, he could get pieces for free. This was a special privilege, as even the king had to pay! The Swan Service was likely a wedding gift from the king to Brühl in 1737.
Brühl loved to host big parties. Back then, people used a style of serving called service à la française. This meant putting many dishes on the table at once. Brühl would serve 80 to 100 different dishes at his parties, so he needed a lot of tableware.
Work on the service started in 1736 with some sample plates. The molds for the pieces began to be made in 1737. Most of the shapes were finished by 1741. The pieces were delivered as they were completed.
The Meissen factory still has the original molds today. They used these molds to make more pieces, even after the original service was finished. These newer pieces usually do not have the family coat of arms.
What Happened to the Service?
Sadly, most of the Swan Service was lost during World War II. The family's castle, Schloss Pförten, was burned down by the Soviet Red Army. It is said that some pieces hidden in the castle's cellars were used for target practice by soldiers.
Today, many museums around the world have pieces from the Swan Service. Sometimes, original pieces from the service still appear for sale. These pieces are very valuable.
Images for kids
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Tureen
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Unpainted wine-cooler, by J.F.Eberlein, 1740–41
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Confectionery dish, made around 1737–41
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Teacup and saucer, made around 1737–41
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Display in the National Museum, Warsaw
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Wine-cooler by J.F.Eberlein, 1741
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Heinrich von Brühl by Marcello Bacciarelli, 1758–63
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