Sommerhuber
Sommerhuber is an Austrian ceramics manufacturer known for handcrafted heat ceramics, tiled-stove tiles, and ceramic products for spa interiors.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Sommerhuber is a historic Austrian ceramics manufacturer based in Steyr. The company traces its origins to 1491, when a ceramics operation in the city was recorded under the name Wärmprecht. The Sommerhuber name entered the business in the nineteenth century after Josef Sommerhuber married the owner of the workshop in 1843. The enterprise subsequently remained associated with the Sommerhuber family and developed from a local craft operation into a specialist producer of architectural and heating ceramics. Historically, the company made tiled stoves and related ceramic components in styles including Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic. Its products were supplied to customers across different social classes, from aristocratic households to urban citizens and rural customers. During the period of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Sommerhuber received commissions connected with imperial residences and administrative buildings. Its work also reached aristocratic clients outside Austria, including members of the Bavarian, Prussian, and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal houses, as well as Romania’s Cotroceni Castle. The firm’s historic prestige was formalized in 1900, when it received an appointment as an Imperial and Royal court supplier. It later received a silver medal at the 1910 Paris World Exposition and became a court supplier to Prince Ludwig Gaston of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in the same year. Sommerhuber also worked with artists and designers, including Saibl, Barwig, Obsieger, and Michael Powolny, integrating artistic decoration into its ceramic work. The end of the monarchy in 1918 removed an important customer and institutional market. Sommerhuber nevertheless survived the resulting disruption. Production was suspended during the Second World War and restarted only gradually after 1945 because of shortages of raw materials. The company later received the Gold Bavarian Handicrafts Prize at the Munich Handwerksmesse in 1973. The energy crises of the 1970s increased interest in wood-fired tiled stoves, supporting demand for Sommerhuber’s heat ceramics. The company also developed newer products, including ceramic electric storage systems. In 1980 it moved into a new factory on Resthofstrasse in Steyr, which remains associated with its headquarters. During the 1980s, Sommerhuber expanded into interior ceramics and wholesale distribution, but later discontinued those activities and concentrated on heat ceramics. Since 1993, the manufactory has been managed by Christian Sommerhuber, described in the company’s family history as Rudolf Sommerhuber’s great-great-grandson. From 1998 onward, the company increasingly developed large-format ceramics, with pieces reaching lengths of up to approximately 135 centimetres. In 2005 it introduced the enJOY line for spas and wellness environments, including electrically heated ceramic heaters, seats, benches, and foot basins. Sommerhuber’s contemporary positioning combines long-established craft expertise with technical development for modern heating and wellness applications. Its principal activities centre on heat-retaining ceramics for tiled stoves, ceramic components for tiled chimneys, and specialized spa ceramics. The company also continues the tradition of artistic collaboration, including work with contemporary artists such as Gerald Brandstötter. Reference material describes the manufactory as employing approximately 120 people.
History
Sommerhuber’s documented history begins in 1491, when a ceramics workshop in Steyr was recorded under the name Wärmprecht. The business developed within the local tradition of ceramic stove and architectural-ceramics manufacture. In 1843, Josef Sommerhuber married the owner of the workshop, and the family name became attached to the enterprise. His son Rudolf Sommerhuber later assumed control. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the manufactory produced tiled stoves in historical styles such as Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic. Its customer base included aristocratic residences, civic households, and private rural customers. Sommerhuber was permitted to supply imperial palaces at Persenbeug and Nieder-Wallsee and to equip offices throughout the Habsburg monarchy. International commissions included work for Prince Arnulf of Bavaria, Prince Joachim of Prussia, Duke Albrecht of Bavaria, and Romania’s Cotroceni Castle. The company’s court status was recognized in 1900 through appointment as an Imperial and Royal court supplier. In 1910, Sommerhuber received a silver medal at the Paris World Exposition and also became a court supplier to Prince Ludwig Gaston of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The manufactory collaborated with artists including Saibl, Barwig, Obsieger, and Michael Powolny, who contributed designs or artistic treatments to its ceramic work. The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918 caused a serious commercial setback because imperial and court-related customers had represented an important market. Sommerhuber continued operating, but the Second World War brought a further interruption: production had to cease. Reopening after 1945 was slow because raw materials were difficult to obtain, although the company itself was largely spared physical destruction. Sommerhuber received the Gold Bavarian Handicrafts Prize at the Munich Handwerksmesse in 1973. The energy crisis of the 1970s contributed to renewed demand for wood-fired tiled stoves, and the company developed additional heating products, including ceramic electric storage systems. In 1980 it constructed a new factory on Resthofstrasse in Steyr. The company experimented with interior ceramics and wholesale distribution during the 1980s, but those activities were later discontinued for economic reasons as Sommerhuber concentrated on heat ceramics. Christian Sommerhuber, identified as a descendant of Rudolf Sommerhuber, took over management in 1993. Beginning in 1998, the company placed increasing emphasis on large ceramic components, producing elements up to about 135 centimetres long. In 2005, it introduced the enJOY range for spas and wellness facilities. This range extended the company’s ceramic-heating expertise into electrically heated heaters, seating, benches, and ceramic foot basins. The company’s modern identity is therefore based less on broad general ceramics production than on specialist heat ceramics and wellness applications. Its historic craft methods, custom forms, large ceramic elements, and collaborations with artists remain part of its differentiation. Contemporary artistic collaboration has included Gerald Brandstötter. The available reference material describes Sommerhuber as an active manufactory with approximately 120 employees.
- 2005
Launch of the enJOY spa range
[1]The enJOY line extended Sommerhuber’s heat-ceramics expertise into electrically heated spa heaters, seats, benches, and ceramic foot basins.
- 1998
Expansion into large-format ceramics
[1]Sommerhuber increasingly developed large ceramic elements, with reported lengths of up to approximately 135 centimetres.
- 1993
Christian Sommerhuber assumes management
[1]Christian Sommerhuber, a descendant of Rudolf Sommerhuber, became the company’s manager.
- 1980
New Steyr factory
[1]The company built a new factory on Resthofstrasse in Steyr, which became the location associated with its headquarters.
- 1973
Gold Bavarian Handicrafts Prize
[1]Sommerhuber received the Gold Bavarian Handicrafts Prize at the Munich Handwerksmesse.
- 1945
Postwar production resumed gradually
[1]After wartime production stoppage, manufacturing restarted slowly because of shortages of raw materials.
- 1918
Loss of the monarchical market
[1]The collapse of the monarchy removed a significant imperial and court-related customer base, creating a major commercial disruption for the manufactory.
- 1910
Paris World Exposition medal
[1]The company received a silver medal at the Paris World Exposition and became a court supplier to Prince Ludwig Gaston of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
- 1900
Imperial and Royal court supplier appointment
[1]Sommerhuber received appointment as an Imperial and Royal court supplier in recognition of its work for imperial and aristocratic customers.
- 1843
Sommerhuber family name enters the business
[1]Josef Sommerhuber married the owner of the workshop, after which the Sommerhuber name became associated with the craft business.
Products and positioning
A heritage Austrian manufactory focused on premium, craft-produced heat ceramics and specialized wellness ceramics, combining historical design traditions with modern heating technology and architectural-scale ceramic production.
Heating ceramics
Tiled-stove ceramics
Sommerhuber’s core products are ceramic tiles and shaped components used in tiled stoves. They are designed to combine architectural appearance with the heat-storage and heat-release properties required by traditional and contemporary stove construction. The historical range included decorative styles such as Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic, while the modern business emphasizes specialist heat ceramics.
Architectural heating ceramics
Ceramic tiled-chimney components
The manufactory produces ceramic elements for tiled chimneys and related heating installations. These components extend the visual and functional ceramic envelope of a heating system and are part of Sommerhuber’s broader focus on customized, craft-oriented heat ceramics rather than mass-market household pottery.
Electric heating
Ceramic electric storage systems
Developed as part of the company’s response to changing heating technology and energy conditions, ceramic electric storage systems use heat-retaining ceramic material in an electrically powered format. The available reference material identifies these systems as a newer product development associated with Sommerhuber’s expansion beyond wood-fired tiled stoves.
Spa and wellness ceramics · 2005
enJOY
Introduced in 2005, enJOY is Sommerhuber’s spa-oriented heat-ceramics line. It includes electrically heated ceramic heaters, seats, benches, and foot basins for wellness environments. The range applies the company’s heat-storage and handcrafted ceramic capabilities to commercial and residential spa interiors.
Architectural ceramics · 1998
Large-format ceramics
Since the late 1990s, Sommerhuber has increasingly developed large ceramic elements, reportedly reaching lengths of up to approximately 135 centimetres. These pieces support architectural applications and allow the manufactory to create broader, more continuous surfaces while retaining its emphasis on custom production and specialist ceramic craftsmanship.
Brand decisions
2005
Launch of enJOY spa ceramicsProduct launchBackground
Sommerhuber applied its heat-ceramics expertise to the growing spa and wellness environment market.
Action taken
The company introduced electrically heated ceramic heaters, seats, benches, and foot basins under the enJOY line.
Aftermath
The launch diversified Sommerhuber’s applications into wellness interiors while retaining its core emphasis on heat-retaining ceramics.
1998
Move into large-format ceramicsStrategyBackground
The company sought to extend its specialist ceramic capabilities beyond conventional tile dimensions.
Action taken
Sommerhuber increasingly developed large ceramic elements, with reported lengths of up to approximately 135 centimetres.
Aftermath
Large-format production broadened the manufactory’s architectural and design possibilities.
1980
Concentration on heat ceramicsStrategyBackground
Sommerhuber had expanded into interior ceramics and wholesale distribution during the 1980s, but those activities became economically unattractive.
Action taken
The company discontinued the interior-ceramics and wholesale activities and focused its business on heat ceramics.
Aftermath
The narrower specialist focus became the foundation of the modern Sommerhuber product portfolio.
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