Painting

Hardly any other manufactory offers as much opulence and richness of motifs in its decorations as Nymphenburg. A painter works for up to three weeks on a "Cumberland" plate, which is considered the most elaborate floral decoration in the world. Only at Nymphenburg do they work without stencils. Thus, it can take up to 15 years before a "beginner" is allowed to take on complex decorations. Much of the knowledge is passed on orally to the next generation. From the color powder produced in the in-house laboratory, each porcelain painter mixes the colors he needs with turpentine, clove and lavender oil. Some of them change very strongly during the firing process. It therefore requires the highest level of skill for a painter to know how to mix and apply colors and how they develop during firing.

The porcelain painting in the workshops of the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory is part of the intangible cultural heritage protected by the German UNESCO Commission.