The special exhibition "The Blue Swords - Meissen in the GDR" tells the story of the Meissen porcelain manufactory in the second half of the 20th century for the first time from 20 September 2025 to 22 February 2026 - from reconstruction after the war and partial dismantling to the end of the GDR. The focus is on the artists' collective around Ludwig Zepner, Heinz Werner and Peter Strang, who had a particular influence on this period. Their best-known designs were inspired by Czech animated films, productions by the Berliner Ensemble or literary motifs such as 1001 Nights.
The Japanese Palace - the porcelain palace of Augustus the Strong - provides an exciting yet fitting setting. Despite all the contradictions to the socialist form of government, the great baroque tradition of the first European porcelain manufactory remained influential. Monumental murals for the Palace of the Republic and other central buildings of the GDR, state gifts and a medal that Sigmund Jähn carried with him on his space flight bear witness to the unbroken high prestige value of Meissen porcelain as a luxury good. Design sketches, theatre costumes, film clips, illustrations and much more open up a view of the art and cultural-historical context of Meissen porcelain in the GDR era.
The exhibition also explores the identity-forming role of the world-renowned manufactory from the perspective of citizens in East and West, where a large proportion of Meissen porcelain was exported in exchange for foreign currency. What remained in the home country and what significance did Meissen have in everyday life and collective memory on both sides of the Wall? Artistically sophisticated photo series from the 1950s and late 1980s, as well as interviews with contemporary witnesses, tell of everyday working life in Europe's largest porcelain manufactory.
In the run-up to the exhibition - from spring 2025 - the public will also be invited here to share their memories and special moments with Meissen porcelain or to suggest their own exhibits with personal stories for the exhibition, a selection of which will be shown.
The Japanese Palace - the porcelain palace of Augustus the Strong - provides an exciting yet fitting setting. Despite all the contradictions to the socialist form of government, the great baroque tradition of the first European porcelain manufactory remained influential. Monumental murals for the Palace of the Republic and other central buildings of the GDR, state gifts and a medal that Sigmund Jähn carried with him on his space flight bear witness to the unbroken high prestige value of Meissen porcelain as a luxury good. Design sketches, theatre costumes, film clips, illustrations and much more open up a view of the art and cultural-historical context of Meissen porcelain in the GDR era.
The exhibition also explores the identity-forming role of the world-renowned manufactory from the perspective of citizens in East and West, where a large proportion of Meissen porcelain was exported in exchange for foreign currency. What remained in the home country and what significance did Meissen have in everyday life and collective memory on both sides of the Wall? Artistically sophisticated photo series from the 1950s and late 1980s, as well as interviews with contemporary witnesses, tell of everyday working life in Europe's largest porcelain manufactory.
In the run-up to the exhibition - from spring 2025 - the public will also be invited here to share their memories and special moments with Meissen porcelain or to suggest their own exhibits with personal stories for the exhibition, a selection of which will be shown.
