How the Dresden-Style Figurines are Made

These handmade figures start out as liquid porcelain and natural-fiber lace. The liquid porcelain is poured into plaster molds to create the body. Once the porcelain dries to become solid, the body of the figurine is assembled and buffed gently so no seams appear in the finished piece.

The most laborious process is next. A natural-fiber lace: cotton, silk, or linen, is dipped in liquid porcelain to which a color dye has been added. The color is not apparent in this liquid state, but will be after firing. The porcelain-wet lace is carefully applied to the body such that a dress is created from its precise placement. The bodice and skirt are both made in this manner. The process of using porcelain-wet lace is called "lace draping" and was developed at Meissen in the mid eighteenth century. After the wet lace is perfectly in place, any embellishments such as handmade flowers are carefully positioned on the figure.

The figurines go through three firings. The first firing is the hottest with the kiln reaching a temperature of 2190° F. This high temperature burns out the lace, and leaves a thin shell of porcelain in the shape of the dress. Both the body and the dress are completely made of porcelain. The second firing is at 1900° F. After this firing, fine features such as hair and face are painted on the doll. The last firing is at 1500° F.

It's not surprising that a lace draped porcelain figure can take up to 100 hours to complete depending on the complexity and intricacy of the dress. Even a simple dress on a small figure requires an incredible amount of time.