"Also major importance, however, was the rise of the porcelain, which Dutch merchant ships brought form China in ever greater quantities to sell in the European markets. Because of the high prices, efforts were being made to manufacture porcelain within Europe. Of great renown are the faiences of Delft where, as early as the beginning of the 17th century, several factories were set up that soon moved beyond producing the blue shades to polychrome ornamentation, more closely imitating the Chinese models with decorative flowers and plants.
In Germany, Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682-1719), the hard working alchemist who desired to produce gold, spearheaded a similar development. Böttger and two colleagues in 1707 were the first to create a hard porcelain pot. - - the Meissen porcelain factory was built up, which from about 1740 enabled Meissen porcelain to reach its greatest heights. The leap from manufacturing pots with artistic embellishment to the creation of figures was driven forward in particular by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-1775). Delicate sheperdesses, miniature cavaliers and fine petite ladies characterized the Rococo period. In the same manner, iconic interior decoration can now be viewed as a product of the Rococo style.
Rivalry between the courts produced a whole series of porcelain factories, for instance Vienna, Berlin and Ludwigsburg, Chelsea in England and Capodimonte near Naples in Italy. In France, Sèvres took the leading role from 1756. There they adhered to technical principles and produced a more vitreous, more transparent porcelain which contained lead and, because of the gentler firing, allowed a greater range of colours. It was used less for tableware and much more for the manufacturing of luxury vessels. - -
The ways in which porcelain was suited to the forms of Rococo decoration are illustrated by this ability to harmonize with changes in artistic conventions. It was intended for use in the inner rooms of the courts and big houses, and if these were to be decorated in the right fashion, then the architectural ornamentation had to be in tune with it." (continues with furniture)
Rococo Charles, Victoria & Carl, Klaus H. 2010 Parkstone Press International, New York, USA