Wallendorfer Porzellan
Encyclopedia
Wallendorfer Porzellan or Wallendorf Porcelain is a porcelain
manufacturing company which has been in operation since 1764 in Lichte (Wallendorf)
in the Thuringian Highlands. Wallendorf is one of the oldest porcelain trademark
s in Germany
and the whole of Europe.
was located in two different principalities with the Lichte river
forming the border. On the west bank was Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
and on the east bank Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
.
In 1761, almost 50 years after the invention of porcelain manufacturing by Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus and Johann Friedrich Böttger
, Johan Wolfgang Hammann
from Katzhütte
applied to the house of Scharzburg-Rudolstadt for the concession of porcelain manufacturing. Unfortunately, only three days previously this concession had been granted to Heinrich Macheleid in Sitzendorf
, so Hamman’s request had to be rejected. However, he did not give up his dream. One year later he was able to fire hard-paste porcelain
in Katzhütte, and one year after that he purchased the Baron Hohental manor
in Lichte on the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld bank of the river.
Finally the Duke
of Saxe-Coburg granted Hammann his porcelain manufacturing concession, and in 1764, together with Gotthelf Greiner
and his cousin Gottfried Greiner, he founded the porcelain manufacturing company in Lichte (Wallendorf). Consequently the trademark Wallendorf porcelain, one of the oldest porcelain trademarks in Europe, was established.
n kaolin was being used, resulting in snow-white hard-paste porcelain. According to the expert Wilhelm Martius in 1793, "Wallendorf porcelain is now brilliant white, . . . beautifully" painted and so hard, that even sparks are emitted by friction on steel".
Until 1833 the company remained in the hands of Hammann’s family. The turbulent years after that were characterised by often changing ownership. Among famous names—indications of porcelain tradition and quality even today—can be found Hutschenreuther
, Kämpfe, Sonntag, Heubach, Fraureuth
, and Schaubach. The changes in ownership and the economic up and downs were reflected in changes intrademarks. In this time imitations of the Meissen porcelain
trademark were noticed and were the subject of complaints to the Electoral Saxe-Coburg Land Authority. Today’s trademark of the letter W below a crown and the foundation year of 1764 was introduced 200 years after the foundation of Wallendorf porcelain.
50°31′30"N 11°11′36"E
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
manufacturing company which has been in operation since 1764 in Lichte (Wallendorf)
Lichte
thumb|220px|Wallendorfer Porcelain Manufacture, Oct. 2006thumb|220px|[[Leibis-Lichte Dam]], 102.5 m highLichte is a municipality in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in Thuringia, Germany, close to the Thuringian Rennsteig.- Geography :...
in the Thuringian Highlands. Wallendorf is one of the oldest porcelain trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
s in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the whole of Europe.
Beginnings
In the 18th century the territory of Lichte (Wallendorf)Lichte
thumb|220px|Wallendorfer Porcelain Manufacture, Oct. 2006thumb|220px|[[Leibis-Lichte Dam]], 102.5 m highLichte is a municipality in the district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in Thuringia, Germany, close to the Thuringian Rennsteig.- Geography :...
was located in two different principalities with the Lichte river
Lichte (river)
The Lichte River is a right tributary of the Schwarza in Thuringia, Germany, and is 17 km long.- Source :The Lichte rises as the Little Lichte in Neuhaus am Rennweg in the Thuringian Highlands.- Course :...
forming the border. On the west bank was Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was a small historic state in present-day Thuringia, Germany with its capital at Rudolstadt.-History:Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was established in 1599 in the course of a resettlement of Schwarzburg dynasty lands...
and on the east bank Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in the 17th century, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinction of the Saxe-Gotha line in...
.
In 1761, almost 50 years after the invention of porcelain manufacturing by Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus and Johann Friedrich Böttger
Johann Friedrich Böttger
Johann Friedrich Böttger was a Germanalchemist.He was generally acknowledged as the inventor of European porcelain although more recent sources ascribe this to Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus...
, Johan Wolfgang Hammann
Hammann
Hammann may refer to*Charles Hammann, American aviator*Gregg Hammann, corporate executive* Johann Wolfgang Hammann, founder of the Wallendorf porcelain manufacture in Lichte Thuringia*Otto Hammann, German journalist...
from Katzhütte
Katzhütte
Katzhütte is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany.-History:Today’s borders of the place were formed by the consolidation of Katzhütte and Oelze to a big municipality in 1950. At the moment of its founding there were about 3800 inhabitants. After the...
applied to the house of Scharzburg-Rudolstadt for the concession of porcelain manufacturing. Unfortunately, only three days previously this concession had been granted to Heinrich Macheleid in Sitzendorf
Sitzendorf
Sitzendorf is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany....
, so Hamman’s request had to be rejected. However, he did not give up his dream. One year later he was able to fire hard-paste porcelain
Hard-paste porcelain
Hard-paste porcelain is a ceramic material that was originally made from a compound of the feldspathic rock petuntse and kaolin fired at very high temperature. It was first made in China around the 9th century....
in Katzhütte, and one year after that he purchased the Baron Hohental manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
in Lichte on the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld bank of the river.
Finally the Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Saxe-Coburg granted Hammann his porcelain manufacturing concession, and in 1764, together with Gotthelf Greiner
Gotthelf Greiner
Johann Gotthelf Greiner was a German glassmaker. He is acknowledge as co-inventor of the porcelain.-Biography:Greiner was born in an old-established glassmaker’s family in Scheibe-Alsbach, Thuringia....
and his cousin Gottfried Greiner, he founded the porcelain manufacturing company in Lichte (Wallendorf). Consequently the trademark Wallendorf porcelain, one of the oldest porcelain trademarks in Europe, was established.
Early work
Originally, Wallendorf porcelain was manufactured using local raw materials. This was the main reason for unclean and toned porcelain. However, by 1780 BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
n kaolin was being used, resulting in snow-white hard-paste porcelain. According to the expert Wilhelm Martius in 1793, "Wallendorf porcelain is now brilliant white, . . . beautifully" painted and so hard, that even sparks are emitted by friction on steel".
Until 1833 the company remained in the hands of Hammann’s family. The turbulent years after that were characterised by often changing ownership. Among famous names—indications of porcelain tradition and quality even today—can be found Hutschenreuther
Hutschenreuther
Hutschenreuther is the name of the family that established the production of porcelain in Northern Bavaria, in 1814. Hutschenreuther was a trend-setter and enabled Germany to gain an excellent reputation in the European porcelain industry...
, Kämpfe, Sonntag, Heubach, Fraureuth
Porzellanfabrik Fraureuth
The Porcelain factory Fraureuth Joint-stock company in Fraureuth was one of the biggest and on high standard porcelain factories oft the German Reich.- Structure of the company :- References :...
, and Schaubach. The changes in ownership and the economic up and downs were reflected in changes intrademarks. In this time imitations of the Meissen porcelain
Meissen porcelain
Meissen porcelain or Meissen china is the first European hard-paste porcelain that was developed from 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. After his death that October, Johann Friedrich Böttger, continued his work and brought porcelain to the market...
trademark were noticed and were the subject of complaints to the Electoral Saxe-Coburg Land Authority. Today’s trademark of the letter W below a crown and the foundation year of 1764 was introduced 200 years after the foundation of Wallendorf porcelain.
Traditions and developments
The typical character of Wallendorf porcelain has survived for almost two and a half centuries until today. In 1764 production started with handmade coffee, tea and chocolate services; in 1785 these were complemented by figurines. These areas are still the main focuses of production. Of course, the technology of raw material mixtures and firing procedures have changed. However, the particular detailed composition invented by Hammann has been improved and survived the centuries as a top secret releasable to insiders only. The typical handmade procedures, such as quality management by experts and hand painting, have remained almost unchanged.Company structure
| Time | Description | Affiliation to | Remarks |
| 1764-1790 | Wallendorf porcelain | Ownership by the Hammann family | |
| 1790- | Wallendorf porcelain | Johann Heinrich Hutschenreuther | |
| -1915 | Wallendorf porcelain | Kämpf & Heubach JSC | |
| 1917-1926 | Wallendorf porcelain | Fraureuth Porcelain Factory Porzellanfabrik Fraureuth The Porcelain factory Fraureuth Joint-stock company in Fraureuth was one of the biggest and on high standard porcelain factories oft the German Reich.- Structure of the company :- References :... |
Porcelain painting Chinese porcelain in European painting Chinese porcelain in European painting is known from the 16th century, following the importation of Chinese porcelain wares into Europe.-Italian precedents :... by order of Fraureuth |
| 1919-1926 | Wallendorf porcelain | Porcelain factory Fraureuth | Art gallery of Fraureuth |
| 1926-1953 | Schaubachkunst | Schaubachkunst | Owner Heinz Schaubach |
| 1953- | Wallendorf porcelain | state-owned firm Volkseigener Betrieb The Volkseigener Betrieb was the legal form of industrial enterprise in East Germany... |
Managing directors:
|
| 1972-90 | VEB Vereinigte Zierporzellanwerke Lichte | state-owned firm Volkseigener Betrieb The Volkseigener Betrieb was the legal form of industrial enterprise in East Germany... |
Managing directors: |
| 1990-present | Wallendorf porcelain | Limited-liability company | Managing director: Brucker |
External links
50°31′30"N 11°11′36"E