Event—Adult Education

Turning Clay into Gold: The King, the Alchemist, and the Birth of Meissen Porcelain

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Trace how a quest for gold led to a far more enduring treasure: exquisite porcelain that has been admired and owned by generations.

Beaker and saucer, "part of a tea and chocolate service given to Vittorio Amadeo II, King of Sardinia, by Augustus the Strong, the Elector of Saxony," Johann Gregor Höroldt, Meissen Manufactory, c. 1725. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art via Wikimedia Commons.

Class Description

Few luxury objects have captured the imagination of collectors and connoisseurs like Meissen porcelain. Together with German historian Anette Isaacs, you will explore the dazzling world of Europe’s first hard-paste porcelain, celebrated for its elegance, craftsmanship, and enduring beauty. From the opulent courts of Saxony to the homes of collectors across Europe and beyond, Meissen porcelain became a symbol of wealth, taste, and artistic excellence.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

German born and raised Anette Isaacs is a historian and public educator who presents hundreds of programs on more than 50 different topics all over the United States. She currently serves as the Director of Lifelong Learning at FIU in Miami, FL.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual 

Class Capacity: 30 

Class Style: Lecture or presentation; option for questions 

Materials List

No Required Materials

Cost and Registration

1 Session, $50 ($45 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($50), Community Supported ($45), and Sponsor ($55). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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