Of the European manufactories of porcelain, that established at
Miessen, near Dresden, by Augustus Elector of Saxony and King of
Poland, in the early part of the 17th century, was the first that
aspired to a competition with the Chinese. In compactness of texture
and infusibility it was reckoned perfect a hundred years ago. It is
not quite so white as some of the French and English porcelains, but
is inferior to none in its painting, gilding, and other decorations.
The French royal manufactory at Sevres, near Paris, has been for
several years in a gradually advancing state, with regard to the
whiteness, compactness, and infusibility of the body, the elegance of
the forms, the brilliancy of the colours, the elaborateness of the
drawing, and the superb enrichments of the gilding. The private
manufactories of porcelain in France imitate and approach more or less
near to the royal establishment.
At Berlin and at Vienna are royal porcelain manufactories in high
esteem, as well as in some of the smaller states of Germany.
_BRITISH PORCELAIN._
The first manufactories of porcelain in England were those at Bow, and
at Chelsea, near London.
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