|
 The history of
Volkstedt porcelain dates to 1760 in Thuringia, Germany, when an
entrepreneur by the name of
Georg Heinrich
Macheleid approached the Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. Macheleid
requested the exclusive privilege to build a porcelain factory within
his principality. The prince, Johann Friedrich, agreed to Macheleid's
request with one condition: his exclusive right to produce porcelain in
the principality would be maintained so long as no one else in the
region was able to verifiably produce a superior product. In exchange,
the deal assured Macheleid's factory a constant supply of firewood, tax
exemption for four years, low jurisdiction for the factory, religious
freedom, and the right to produce all the food the factory would need
within its own grounds. Essentially, the porcelain factory quickly
became self-sustaining, a village unto itself. In addition, all
the materials needed to produce the porcelain could be obtained from
nearby regions. These included sand from Rudostaldt, Kapselton-a
special type of clay used by the factory-from Coburg, and porcelain
mass and glaze from Sitzendorf. To view Volkstedt porcelain marks, click here.
While the early years were
difficult for the Volkstedt porcelain factory, by the late 18th
century the company was producing a high volume of merchandise that
earned it renown throughout Europe. The Volkstedt factory produced
everything from porcelain dinnerware, vases, candlesticks, basins,
boxes, and of course, figurines. A catalogue of 1795 claimed to offer
90 different types of figurines. By the mid-nineteenth century, the
Volkstedt factory began producing the famous lace figurines. Also
known as "Dresden lace," the effect was accomplished when real cotton
lace was dipped in soft paste porcelain and then fired. The fabric
burned away, leaving a fragile porcelain "lace" shell that, though
delicate, could withstand the test of time given proper care. A number
of fine examples of these porcelain lace products, including the famous
Volkstedt lace ballerinas, can be found among our collection.
 The exclusive privilege of
this original Volkstedt factory was revoked in 1832, opening the way
for smaller porcelain workshops to be opened in the region. One
example was the operation begun by Anton Müller. His porcelain lace
figurines gained immediate renown. His pieces can be identified by his
stamp trademark: the crown over the letters 'MV," which stands for
Müller - Volkstedt. By the late 1930's his operation had blossomed and
was exporting worldwide, along with the older Volkstedt factory, which
continues production to this day.
Müller - Volkstedt
encountered more difficulties in the 20th century than the
older factory, however. The factory was completely destroyed during
the allied bombings of World War II. Although Anton Müller himself
died at this time, his niece Johanna Saar was able to salvage some of
the old master moulds and rebuilt the factory in 1945. The Saar family
eventually moved the operation to Ireland, and the factory currently
known as 'Irish Dresden" was opened in Dromcolliher, Limerick, and
continues to operate to the present day. |
Volkstedt Porcelain Figural
Groupings
Volkstedt Porcelain Figurines