The Collector's Handbook to Keramics of the Renaissance and Modern Periods Part 9

FRANKENTHAL, in Bavaria. Established in 1754, by Paul Hannong, who, having discovered the secret of hard porcelain, offered it to the royal manufactory at Sevres, but the authorities not agreeing as to the price, the offer was declined, and they commenced persecuting him--for in that year a decree forbade the making of translucent ware in France except at Sevres--and Hannong was compelled to go to Frankenthal, leaving his fayence manufactory at Stra.s.sburg in charge of his sons. In 1761 the factory was purchased by the Elector Carl Theodore, and it attained great celebrity, which it maintained until he became Elector of Bavaria, in 1777. It then declined, and all the stock and utensils were sold in 1800 and removed to Greinstadt. The following chronogram denotes the year 1775:--

VARIANTIBVS FLOSCVLIS DIVERSI COLORES FABRICae SVB REVIVISCENTIS SOLIS HVIVS RADIIS EXVLTANTIS INFRANKENTHAL ?

It occurs on a porcelain plate, Fig. 139, having in the centre the initials of Carl Theodore, interlaced and crowned, within a gold star of flaming rays; radiating from this are thirty divisions, and on the border thirty more, all numbered and painted with small bouquets, _en camaeu_, of all the various shades of colour employed in the manufactory.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 139.--PLATE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 140.--A DeJEUNER SERVICE.]

NEUDECK, on the Au, and NYMPHENBURG. This factory was established in 1747, by a potter named Niedermayer. Graf von Hainshausen became its patron in 1754, and in 1756 he sent for Ringler, who organised the establishment, and it was then placed under the protection of the Elector Maximilian Joseph. On the death of his successor, Carl Theodore, in 1799, the Frankenthal manufactory was abandoned, and transferred to Nymphenburg, which is still a royal establishment, and well supported.

The pieces are manufactured in white at Nymphenburg, but chiefly decorated at Munich and elsewhere; that is the reason why on the same piece the Nymphenburg mark is frequently found impressed, with the mark of some other factory painted in colour.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 141.--TANKARD.]

Fig. 141, moulded in relief and painted with flowers; marks, the coat of Bavaria, 1765 in gold, two leaves and I. A. H. in green; height 7-1/4 in.

Fig. 142, painted in colours; marks, the coat of arms of Bavaria, and A incised; diameter 3-1/4 in. and 5-1/4 in.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 142.--CUP AND SAUCER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 143.--CUP AND SAUCER.]

ANs.p.a.cH, a town which belonged to the Margraves of Ans.p.a.ch and is now in Bavaria. There was a factory here about 1760.

Fig. 143 is painted with figures in colour; signed "Schelk, pinx."; mark A in blue; diameter 3 ins. and 5-1/4 in.

BAYREUTH was under the same rulers as Ans.p.a.ch, and is now also in Bavaria. There was a manufactory here in the 18th century, but little appears to be known respecting it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 144.--CUP.]

Fig. 144 is painted in colours, and gilt inside; mark, "Metzsch 1748 Bayr"; diameter 2-3/4 in.

KELSTERBACH, in Hesse. A manufactory for pottery was founded here about 1758, where later porcelain was also made. The works only lasted about sixteen years.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 145.--HARLEQUIN.]

Fig. 145 is painted in colours; mark, H. D. under a crown, in blue; height 6-3/4 in.

THURINGIA. In the middle of the 18th century a number of small porcelain factories sprang up in this district. It is said that they owe their origin to a chemist named Macheleid, who discovered by accident a deposit of kaolin, and obtained permission from the Prince of Schwarzburg to establish a factory at SITZENRODA, which in 1762 was removed to Volkstedt.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 146.--CUP AND SAUCER. Diam. 2-3/4 in. and 5-3/4 in.]

CLOSTER, or KLOSTER, VEILSDORF, or VOLKSTEDT. The porcelain manufactory of Sitzenroda was transferred to Volkstedt, in Thuringia, in 1762, where it was farmed by a merchant named Nonne, of Erfurt, who greatly enlarged and improved the works. About the year 1770 it was carried on by Greiner. In 1795 more than 120 workmen were employed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 147.--TEAPOT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 148.--TRAY.]

Fig. 148 is moulded in rococo style, and painted with flowers; mark, s.h.i.+eld of Saxe-Meiningen between C. V.; length 12-1/2 in.

RUDOLSTADT. The factory at Volkstedt was afterwards removed to Rudolstadt, near Jena. Gotthelf Greiner had the direction of several of the other Thuringian manufactories; he died in 1797.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 149.--MILK-POT AND CUP AND SAUCER.]

FULDA, in Hesse. A factory was established here about 1763 by Arnandus, Prince-Bishop of Fulda, for the manufacture of porcelain. The best artists were employed, and many grand vases, figures, and services of a fine white paste and handsomely decorated were produced.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 150.--A PEASANT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 151.--A PEASANT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 152.--CUP AND SAUCER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 153.--COFFEE-POT.]

FuRSTENBERG. In Brunswick, established in 1750, by the help of Bengraf, who came from Hochst; he died the same year, and Baron von Lang, a distinguished chemist, undertook the direction of the works, under the patronage of Carl, Duke of Brunswick. The manufactory was carried on by the Government up to the middle of last century.

Fig. 154, a bust of Augusta, d.u.c.h.ess of Brunswick, grand-daughter of King George II., is in white biscuit; mark, F in blue, a running horse, and W; height 20-1/2 in.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 154.--BUST.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 155--MEDALLIONS. _In white biscuit._]

Fig. 155. Portraits of O. D. Beckmann and A. L. Schlotzer; marked with a running horse and F; length 2-7/8 in.

LUDWIGSBURG, in Wurtemberg. Established by J. J. Ringler in 1758, under the patronage of Carl Eugene, the reigning duke. It was celebrated for the excellence of its productions and the fine paintings on its vases and services, as well as for its excellent groups. This factory ceased in 1824.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 156.--CHOCOLATE-POT.]

Fig. 156 is painted with figures of Hope and Music in panels; mark, double C under a crown, in blue; height 5-1/4 in.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 157.--COFFEE-POT.]

Fig. 157 is painted in lake _camaeu_, with a landscape and buildings after Claude, and has a gilt, arabesque and scroll border.

REGENSBURG, or RATISBON. This factory was established about 1760.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 158.--CUP AND SAUCER.]

GROSSBREITENBACH. A factory was established here about 1770 by Greiner.

The demand for his porcelain was so great, that not being able to enlarge his works at Limbach, he started this as well as Veilsdorf and Volkstedt.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 159.--MILK-POT.]

Fig. 159 is grey blue ware in imitation of Wedgwood, with cla.s.sical group in white relief, bearing a wreath with the cypher F. G. C. under a crown; marks, "Breitenbach et Limbach," and "Gruber"; height 4 in.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIMBACH

FIG. 160.--SUCRIER, COVER, AND STAND.]