xv Bottgher and Porcelain 173 



This discovery proved of much greater importance 

 than the young alchemist's proposal to convert copper 

 into gold. Bottgher presented the first piece of hard 

 porcelain to the Elector in October 1707. The Elector 

 was greatly pleased with it, and he resolved that the 

 discoverer should be furnished with the means for per- 

 fecting his invention. Bottgher abandoned alchemy for 

 pottery, and placed over the door of his workshop these 

 words : 



Almighty God, the Great Creator, 

 Has changed a Goldmaker to a Potter. 



The porcelain which Bottgher manufactured being 

 found to sell for large prices, the Elector determined to 

 establish a Royal Manufactory of Porcelain. Accord- 

 ingly a large series of buildings was erected at the 

 Albrectsburg in Meissen. The porcelain manufactory 

 was very successful, and the large profits soon pro- 

 vided the Elector with the gold of which he was in 

 search. 



It is pitiful to think of the treatment to which 

 Bottgher was subjected. He was always under strict 

 guard. Soldiers were constantly about him. Two 

 royal officials were put over him at the factory. He 

 was treated as the King's prisoner. He was locked up 

 nightly in his room, with a guard of soldiers outside to 

 prevent his escape. In short, he was enslaved. No 

 more inhuman treatment was ever awarded to an im- 

 portant discoverer. At last the poor fellow took to 



