Waechtersbach Germany - mark

Waechtersbach Beehive mark and triangle with 

“REGISTERED / GESCHUETZT / DEPOSE”

This back stamp belongs to a German manufacturer called Waechtersbach (in Germany: Wächtersbacher Keramik).  The triangle mark was in use between c. 1893 and c.1911 (according to Ludwig Rinn 2002, Markentafel Waechtersbacher Keramik).

The Waechtersbacher Steingutfabrik  was established in 1832 and is still in business (now owned by Koenitz Porcelain). The official site of the company is here: http://www.waechtersbach.com/

The impressed beehive mark appears first in 1882 and was used for over 100 years, until the early 1980s.

The company had a good reputation for quality stoneware and a large output of domestic pottery, such as the container above. You will find their products all over the world. I live in Australia and I am surprised how many pieces from the early 20^th century until the 1960s you can find here in op shops and at the flea market.

The tray below is an example of the collectable art nouveau / art deco ceramics by this company.

The Wikepedia entry is short: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waechtersbach_ceramics

Literature:

• Exhibition catalogue 2007, Wächtersbacher Steingut Figuren und Figuerliches, Ausstellungskatalog herausgegeben vom Museums- und Geschichtsverein Brachttal e.v., 116 pages
• Ludwig Rinn (2002), Markentafel Wächtersbacher Keramik, Michael Imhof Verlag, 30 pages
• Exhibition catalogue 2002, Wächtersbacher Steingut, Die Sammlung der Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Hessen-Thueringen.
• Heinz und Lilo Frensch 1979, Wächtersbacher Steingut, publisher Karl Robert Germany, 143 pages

Plain Sunrise / Sunset Mark - Gebrueder Heubach

I received an enquiry in regards to a plain printed green circle mark, displaying a sunset or sunrise, on the base of a dog figurine.

This back stamp belongs to a company called “Gebrueder Heubach”. Their porcelain manufacture operated in Lichte, Thuringia, Germany and was founded in 1820. Heubach is mainly known for its famous dolls, which are highly collectable.

A similar mark (including SCHUTZ – MARKE, = Trade mark, meaning basically copyright)  was registered in Berlin in 1895. They used another sunrise mark with DEP underneath from 1882-c1905. Source: Zuehlsdorff  (1994), Keramik-Marken Lexikon, Arnoldsche, Stuttgart / Germany, p.  (Mark number 1/15.18).

The company used a different mark after the war, see http://bodenmarken.porzellan-selb.de/porzellanmarken.php?page=3

I think its save to say the dog was made in the early 20^th century.

Does anyone know in which time frame this particular mark was used?

New site including Fuerstenberg Porcelain Marks

Still under construction, but already worthwhile visiting is a new German site in regards to Fuerstenberg  (Fürstenberg) porcelain from Germany. The company was founded in 1747 – and is still operating - by Karl I Duke of Braunschweig.  Follow the link to the excellent back stamp site, which includes many examples:

http://www.18jahrhundert-porzellan.de/marken/

The site is an ambitious project by a private collector, specialising in early 18^th century pieces – well done.

Exotic Bird Jug, Art Deco stylised Parrot – marked Germany

I received an email asking for help in regards to two parrot jugs, purchased at an auction in Australia. The pieces have been described simply as “German Bisque Porcelain”.

A quick search on ebay revealed that a number of similar vintage jugs are currently being sold in America and the UK. However, I could not find a parrot jug on the German ebay site (with a listing of 2000 jugs). Therefore, I believe these exotic bird novelty jugs have been mainly produced for the export market. Czechoslovakia also produced a large quantity of animal jugs, such as cows, mooses and parrots.

Dating them is difficult without the possibility of pinpointing a manufacturer. American import restrictions (The McKinley Tariff Act) required all companies to print the country of origin and “Germany” was used from c.1885 onwards. The colourful ‘art deco’ design of the jugs date these pieces into the first half of the 20^th century (pre WWII), c.1920-1935.

On a technical note: the description “Bisque” is misleading, relating to the French term “Biscuit”, first used in the 18^th century. It implies an unglazed sugar like surface and is now commonly used as a description for vintage dolls. The European ceramic industry of the 19^th and early 20^th century was extremely inventive when it came to techniques and clay bodies. If these jugs are made out of porcelain, it’s more accurate to describe the jugs as soft-paste porcelain.

Please leave a comment, if you know the company, or can help with more information.