The factory of Meissen was founded in 1710 by Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony and this right after the (re)discovery of the hard paste porcelain by J.F. Böttger and Count Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhausen. Originally situated in Dresden, the factory was moved still in 1710 to the Albrechtsburg in Meissen, where it was more secure to guard the secret of the hard paste porcelain. It was for the most part the red stoneware of Böttger which was manufactured in the early days and some of it was marked with incised Chinese characters. Not until 1713 did porcelain begin to take the place of this stoneware. After the death of Böttger in 1719 it was Höroldt who took charge of the factory. He was brought to Meissen from Vienna by Samuel Stölzel and created in Meissen a rich palette of enamel colours for the decoration of the wares. The work of Höroldt is well known as the "Chinoiseries", which were scenes from the Orient.

In 1732 already 92 persons were employed at the factory, amongst them J.G. Kirchner and J.J. Kändler, both famous modellers.

On the 7th of April 1723 the Leipziger Post Zeitungen announced that the Meissen wares would carry a mark to protect them against forgeries (mostly minor damaged porcelain, decorated by home painters). This mark took the form of the letters KPM (Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur) in underglaze blue.

During the period 1756-1773 Meissen porcelain was marked with the crossed swords with a dot in between the cross-pieces and the period was accordingly known as the dot-period. This period marks the transition towards the Neo-Classicism style. Höroldt en Kändler were sent on retirement and Michel Victor Acier was appointed as master-modeller. In his production the mythological figures took a predominate place.

The dot-period was followed by the Marcolini-period, named after Count Camillo Marcolini who became director of the company in 1774 and held his position up to 1814. The Meissen production from this period was marked with the crossed swords with an asterics in between the cross-pieces and this still in underglaze blue. The Marcolini period ended in a crisis situation for the factory. Its debts were enormously high. During the next ten years attempts were made to improve business: technical innovations were introduced and wares were made in the taste ot the time. As from that point things were going better. In 1830 the name of the factory was changed from Königliche Manufaktur to Staatliche Porzellan Manufaktur. The Meissen factory is still operational and is producing the worlds' most expensive porcelain.

The marks showed in black (BS) are incised marks. The first two were only used for biscuit porcelain, the third only for white porcelain (glazed).

As from 1948 a secondary (year)mark is used on Meissen ware.

During its excistance, the Meissen factory has always been committed to quality for hundred percent. Wares showing the smallest damage were rejected and sold to house painters as second quality wares. In that case the marks were altered:

• With one bar when it concerned damaged bodies. These were sold in biscuit condition to the house painters. (The bar was put or at the bottom, or on top, or in the middle of the factory mark)

• With two or three bars when it concerned damages of the decoration.