CULTOURINARIA
"Porcelain Painting Art and Beyond" in Germany
The adventure of exploring the cradles of European porcelain
The special custom “Porcelain Painting Art and Beyond” Tour includes two 2-day classes at the Meissen porcelain manufacturer and at the scenically located Cursdorf porcelain manufacture. We visited several porcelain manufacturers presenting their local designs, traditions and handcraft as well as precious porcelain collections at historic places: royal palaces and fortresses. For accompanying family and friends we provide alternative programs during the porcelain painting classes. Since the beginning of the 13th century, porcelain had been imported by European royalty from China at an enormous cost. In the early 18th century endeavors were made in Meissen to unlock the secret of porcelain manufacturing. The orders were given by Augustus II "the Strong", the Electoral Prince of Saxony and the King of Poland. In 1708, white porcelain was manufactured for the first time in Europe under the leadership of Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and Johann Friedrich Boettger. The “State Porcelain Manufacturer Meissen” was founded in 1710 and celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2010 as Europe’s first and premier porcelain manufacturer. Table services, figurines, accessories are still hand-crafted, processed and artistically decorated by hand in various styles by a specialist team. Meissen porcelain still remains today the model of European table and fine dining culture. Each piece of porcelain is hand designed and marked with the manufactory trademark. The "Crossed Swords" are the oldest trademark in the world to have been used without interruption since their creation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In June 2010 a small exclusive group of passionate porcelain painters from the US traveled to the cradles of European porcelain in Germany: Meissen, Dresden, Thuringia and Berlin - with porcelain painting classes, sightseeing, excursions, delicious food and much fun together...
flickr photo album of the "Porcelain Painting Art and Beyond" Tour to Germany June 2010
Exemplary itinerary for the "Porcelain Painting Art and Beyond" Tour to Germany
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quotes from porcelain painters who participated in the June 2010 tour in Germany:
"Thank you for the trip and experience of a life time. No other trip will be the same" Marilyn W, CA
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip. You have added such personal touches that has made me feel like we have been one family for these 2 weeks. I look forward to coming back next year." Kay, TX
"I had a wonderful time. This trip has exceeded all my expectations." Jada, TX
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel dates 2011 and 2012:
Thursday, May 12 to Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, September 08 to Thursday, September 22, 2011
Thursday, May 31 to Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thursday, September 06 to Thursday, September 20, 2012 and ON REQUEST!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information, travel dates and you own tailor-made tour contact us:
CULTOURINARIA - Ute Boese:
Email: info@cultourinaria.com
Sullivan's Custom Tours - Donna Sullivan:
Email: donnabsullivan@aol.com
Phone: (1) 713.291.3492 (cell) or (1) 713.849.4858 (phone/fax)
Special offers / incentives for travel group leaders and porcelain art club trips!
Germany is the birthplace of European porcelain. Until today the tradition of artfully handcrafted porcelain is very much alive at many local porcelain manufacturers.
Founded in 1751, the “Royal Prussian Porcelain Manufacturer KPM” stands for the very finest porcelain and one of the leading luxury brands in the world. The legendary King of Prussia, Frederick the Great, gave the company its name and symbol in 1763. The royal blue sceptre is a seal of quality for each and every masterpiece of Berlin porcelain.
In 1757, Georg Heinrich Macheleid from Cursdorf in Thuringia independently developed a technique to make porcelain. Since then, many small manufacturers made their way creating an unique diversity of local porcelain designs: floral decors featuring native flowers, birds, herbs. Many decors were very much valued by local Royal courts in and outside Thuringia. Today, more than 20 mostly family-run porcelain manufacturers are still active along the so called “Thuringian Porcelain Road”.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
