After a minimum of three years apprenticeship, each gets a fixed number of minutes to finish a task, such as 250 minutes to cut holes in the semi-dried porcelain paste of what will become a filigreed ''woven'' ceramic basket. Paid per finished piece, the craftsmen and craftswomen control their own hours and income. Sick days and vacation are well below the Western levels. Nearly all opt for full shifts, said a company spokesman, Harri Wuestner. At Meissen, handwork also allows the company to produce pieces that cannot be duplicated by machine, with no one flower exactly the same as another.
Collectors pay a price.
The cheapest teacups start at 150 DM and rise according to customer specifications.