Meissen is a kind of very fine porcelain — thin, carefully painted china — made in the town of Meissen, near Dresden in Germany, from the early eighteenth century. Europe had long tried to copy Chinese porcelain; Meissen was the first European maker to do it well, so old pieces are valuable and collectors hunt them. The ware took the town’s name, the way people name china after a famous kiln town. You hear Meissen in museums, antique shops, and auction news, not in everyday shopping. People also say Meissen china or Meissen porcelain. English writes Meissen; German writes the town Meißen. It feels specialist and a little fancy.

梅森瓷器