Porcelain Manufactory Gotha
The Gotha porcelain factory was founded in 1757 and existed until 1934. It was one of the oldest porcelain manufacturers in Europe . There were other manufacturers in Gotha , such as the Pfeffer porcelain and faience factory, which should not be confused with the Gotha porcelain factory.
history
Wilhelm von Rotberg
The ducal chamber councilor Wilhelm von Rotberg founded the first porcelain factory in Thuringia in Gotha in 1757 . Although Rotberg knew about the secret of porcelain production, the quality of the broken pieces was still poor in the first few years. The ceramic mass initially looked rather bluish-gray and was very similar to gray stoneware . The painting also had serious defects. After 1765 the quality of the shards and the painting changed increasingly. The ceramic mass was now more yellowish and the painting improved in quality.
Around 1770 Rotberg recruited experienced workers from other manufactories. One of them was Christian Schultz, who was probably previously employed at the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin . As well as the modeller Johann Adam Brehm, who came from the Manufactory Kloster Veilsdorf and Johann Georg Gabel, a student of Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder. Ä . Thanks to their knowledge and skills, the porcelain steadily increased in quality. So the porcelain mass became delicate ivory-colored and transparent. The glaze and painting were now on a par with the large manufacturers in Meissen and Berlin.
Schultz and Co.
In 1782, Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg appointed Rotberg President of the Chamber. Rotberg withdrew from the management of the company and transferred this to his employees. In the same year a consortium was founded, which Ernst Friedrich Arnoldi won as a sponsor. Arnoldi became managing director and Christian Schultz production manager of the Schultz and Co. consortium. It was contractually agreed that the six members of Schulz and Co. would receive equal rights and the workers even receive a share of the profits.
In the years that followed, Gotha porcelain also became known outside of the duchy. In 1787 about 20 employees worked for the factory, including six painters and four lathe operators.
While under Schultz, more and more porcelains from the Königliche Porzellanmanufaktur Berlin were copied at the beginning, later own creations were created. As early as 1785, the manufacture adopted the design language and decors of classicism. Coffee and tea services, jugs, vases, candlesticks, cans, lamps and biscuit figures were made. Some of the designs of these bisque figures are probably made by the Gotha sculptor Friedrich Wilhelm Eugen Döll , who came to Gotha in 1770.
In the last quarter of the 18th century Gotha was considered a center of silhouette art. During this period until well into the 19th century, the porcelain manufactory focused on the production of so-called silhouette porcelain. The silhouette artist Johann Friedrich Anthing , born in Gotha in 1753 , probably influenced the porcelain painters of the Gotha manufactory. From 1789 porcelains were made which imitated black earthenware according to "Etrurian taste". This was preceded by a shipment of samples from Black Basalt Ware from Staffordshire to the Gothaer Hof.
Friedrich Egidius Henneberg
Rotberg died in 1795 and the manufacture went to the Hereditary Prince August of Saxe-Gotha , disregarding the right of first refusal in 1802 through his widow . The Duke leased the manufacture to his valet Friedrich Egidius Henneberg and his descendants. Arnoldi was released.
In 1804 38 people worked in the factory, including 14 painters, three embossers , eight lathe operators, two burnishers, two polishers and several assistants. The porcelain was now increasingly being bought by the wealthy middle class. Due to the mass production, the artistic specialties were lost in the following decades. Artful painting also became less and less important among Henneberg's successors.
Simson brothers
After August Henneberg's death, the heirs sold the manufacture to the Simson brothers in Suhl in 1883 . The production was switched to hotel and kitchen china. The history of the Gotha porcelain manufactory ended in 1934. The Jewish owners were expropriated without compensation and the company closed after sales difficulties.
literature
- Helga Raschke : Gotha is well known - world famous. Gotha 2009, ISBN 978-3-939182-20-7 , pp. 70-75.