In 1720 Johann Gregor Herold became art director of the Meissen factory and developed the styles of decoration that made it famous. Both the quality and the variety of enamel colors were improved, and the paste achieved the brilliant whiteness and perfection of surface that characterizes mature Meissen wares. Herold introduced "chinoiserie" decorations, in which comparatively large-scale half-length figures were set against landscapes with cloudy skies. The high quality of its painting suggests that Herold himself may have decorated this saucer.