HUTSCHENREUTHER - Blau Zwiebelmuster - Coffee cup and saucer Blue Porcelain

The tradition-rich history of the "Zwiebelmuster" service takes us back to China, the homeland of porcelain. Already at the time of the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644) it is attested that floral motifs were painted on fine white porcelain. Even the symmetrical arrangement of the different motifs, which derives from the Japanese figural painting of Arita according to Kakimon, can be found for example in the bamboo bouquet of the blue and white porcelain. Some European artists of the 18th century, fascinated by these trendy motifs, symbols of China, took them up again to create new forms that still retain all their charm today. Thus the famous „Zwiebelmuster“ service was born in 1739. This name was born in popular language which did not recognize the symbols painted in blue. There is actually no onion (Zwiebel in German) in these drawings, but rather there are pomegranates, peaches, peonies and a bamboo bouquet. Every fruit, as well as every plant, has a symbolic meaning in Middle Eastern philosophy: - bamboo represents the high social classes, - the pomegranate is the symbol of fertility, - the penoia represents wealth, - the peach nuts with the their wrinkled surface represents immortality. The white collection from Meissner's C. Teichert porcelain factory, which refers to a design from the year 1728, was revived by Lorenz Hutschenreuther in 1926 and was launched on the market under the name Maria Theresia. Also from the C. Teichert factory comes „Blau Zwiebelmuster“, produced by Hutschenreuther since 193. Even today, pure cobalt is used for the color and a large part of the work is done by hand, in particular for the paintings on the lid knobs, on the edges of the plates and on those of the cups. The finest detailing is the hallmark of the Hutschenreuther "Blau Zwiebelmuster" collection. The shapes reflect the needs of modern furnishings and each element is obviously dishwasher and microwave safe. This tradition continues to this day and the baroque „Blau Zwiebelmuster“ collection continues to be the most widespread and most loved among those by Hutschenreuther, especially by those who love to make every dining experience unique.