Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst

The Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst is a German porcelain manufactory founded in 1882 by Hermann Jost in Unterweißbach, Thuringia. It began by producing utilitarian tableware and later expanded its range to include gardener figures such as traders, musicians, carriages, animals, and dancers (some decorated with porcelain lace), as well as devotional items like holy-water vessels and Christmas ornaments. The manufactory is closely associated with the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst, an art department established within its premises in 1909 by Max Adolf Pfeiffer. This art department attracted prominent artists and sculptors including Ernst Barlach, Gerhard Marcks, Richard Scheibe, and Paul Scheurich, producing porcelain sculptures that remain highly regarded. Its mark, an impressed striding fox, was used from the beginning. The Schwarzburger Werkstätten gained international fame at the 1910 Brussels World's Fair. After Pfeiffer left in 1913 to direct the Meissen porcelain manufactory, the Unterweißbach firm continued until a bankruptcy around 1930. It was briefly connected to the Aeltesten Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur and continued as a manufactory. In 1940, Heinz Schaubach acquired the bankrupt Unterweißbacher Werkstätten and founded Heinz Schaubach Unterweißbach, operating it alongside Schaubachkunst in Lichte until expropriation by the East German government in 1953. After German reunification, the Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst was taken over by the Königlich privilegierte Porzellanfabrik Tettau, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seltmann Weiden, and continues to produce today in the building of the Aeltesten Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur in Volkstedt (Rudolstadt). Many exhibits of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst are still being reissued today, sometimes in limited editions.

The Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst was founded in 1882 by Hermann Jost in Unterweißbach, Thuringia. It started with the production of utilitarian tableware. Over time, the range expanded to include gardener figures such as traders, musicians, carriages, animals, and dancers (some decorated with porcelain lace), as well as devotional items like holy-water vessels, later supplemented by Christmas ornaments. In 1909, Max Adolf Pfeiffer (1875–1957) established the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst as an art department within the Unterweißbach workshops. Pfeiffer attracted numerous artists and sculptors, including Ernst Barlach, Friedrich Franz Brockmüller, Adolf Brütt, Dorothea Charol, Gerhard Marcks, Karl Menser, Carl Fuchs, Wilhelm August Goebel, Karl Himmelstoss, Otto Kramer, Reinhold Martin Kuntze, Hugo Meisel, Adelbert Niemeyer, Gustav Oppel, Otto Thiem, Mauritius Pfeiffer, Etha Richter, Helene Ruoff, Arthur Storch, Richard Scheibe, Paul Scheurich, Martha Schlameus, Walter Schott, Edmund Sode, and Claire Volkhart. The mark of this art department, an impressed striding fox, was used from the beginning. The collaboration with these sculptors and artists resulted in a wealth of porcelain sculptures that remain unmatched in their uniqueness. Students from Brütt's Weimar sculpture school, founded in 1905, also supplied models, including Franziska von Seeger and Wolfgang Schwartzkopff. The 1910 Brussels World's Fair made the simple porcelains of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst famous. A catalog of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten appeared in 1912. In April 1913, Max Adolf Pfeiffer took over the directorship of the Meissen porcelain manufactory, continuing his passion for porcelain in the so-called Pfeiffer era. The Unterweißbach firm continued until its bankruptcy around 1930. Afterwards, it was briefly connected with the Aeltesten Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur and continues to exist today as a manufactory. The models of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten are stored in Rudolstadt/Volkstedt and are being reissued today. In 1940, Heinz Schaubach acquired the bankrupt Unterweißbacher Werkstätten, founded the company Heinz Schaubach Unterweißbach, and ran it together with Schaubachkunst in Lichte (Wallendorf) until expropriation by the DDR in 1953. Many exhibits of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst are still being reissued today, sometimes in limited editions. After German reunification, the Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst was taken over by the Königlich privilegierte Porzellanfabrik Tettau (a 100% subsidiary of Seltmann Weiden) and still produces today in the building of the Aeltesten Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur in Volkstedt (Rudolstadt).

• 1990

  After German reunification, taken over by Königlich privilegierte Porzellanfabrik Tettau (Seltmann Weiden).

• 1953

  Expropriation by the DDR.

• 1940

  Heinz Schaubach acquires the bankrupt Unterweißbacher Werkstätten and founds Heinz Schaubach Unterweißbach.

• 1930

  Bankruptcy of the Unterweißbach firm.

• 1913

  Max Adolf Pfeiffer takes over directorship of Meissen porcelain manufactory.

• 1912

  Catalog of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten published.

• 1910

  World's Fair in Brussels makes the Schwarzburger Werkstätten famous.

• 1909

  Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst art department founded by Max Adolf Pfeiffer.

• 1882

  Founded by Hermann Jost in Unterweißbach, Thuringia.

Historic German porcelain manufactory with a strong artistic heritage, producing both utilitarian and art porcelain.

• Utilitarian tableware

• Gardener figures (traders, musicians, carriages, animals, dancers)

• Devotional items (holy-water vessels)

• Christmas ornaments

• Art porcelain sculptures by Schwarzburger Werkstätten

1. 1Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Unterweißbacher Werkstätten für Porzellankunst - Wikidatawikidata.org