Gerold Porzellan Website & Value Guides

1924 – Neue Porzellanfabrik Tettau AG

By 1924, the company shifted its focus from cheap bisque items to higher-quality porcelain, aiming to compete in the North American marketplace.  The factory’s products continually improved, and in 1924, the cooperative was transformed into a public limited company known as Neue Porzellanfabrik Tettau AG.

Before the war, there were about 80 people who worked in the factory. Until 1924 cheap bisque (unglazed) items were produced, but by 1925 they turned toward better quality to compete with the North American marketplace.  The products of the factory improved from year to year and were supplied mainly to North America.  By 1924 the former cooperative was converted into a public limited company and known as the Neue Porzellanfabrik Tettau A.G.  Ernst Büttner managed the company from 1913 - 1925.

1937 – Neue Porzellan Fabrik Tettau Gerold & Co.

During the Second World War (1939 - 1945), the number of employees went down in 1948 to 84 people. The military had taken over departments of the factory to produce ammunition, which was led by a Wiesbaden-based defense contractor.  After the invasion of American troops (04/13/1945) and during the occupation, those machines were removed.

Due to a lack of raw materials and transportation problems due to the closure of the railway line Tettau-Pressig/Rothenkirchen in 1925, the operation was stopped for several months.

But Fritz Gerold made it work by selling their products domestically, in The EEC area, and in the North American Market.  Thus, the number of employees in 1951 increased to 206 people and up to 260 people in 1970 after increasing their product numbers.  During this time the factory was continuously expanded.

1960 – 1993 - Porzellanfabrik Gerold & Co.

In 1960, the company streamlined its name to Porzellanfabrik Gerold & Company, a name that would endure for several decades.

1963-1969 – Expansions and Innovations

During these years, the company underwent significant expansions, including the conversion of the tunnel kiln to liquid glass, the addition of a gas plant, and the construction of a second factory expansion with a tunnel oven. A new pattern room and payroll were also established. It was during this period in 1968 that Gerold died at the age of 64 and the company began to have severe problems.  He had headed the company for over 40 years.  His son Günter Gerold then took over the management until 1989.

Challenges in the 1980’s

The porcelain industry faced challenges in the 1980s, as cheap imports from Asia, particularly South Korea, flooded the German market.  This led to a significant decline in sales of porcelain figures and a reduction in the workforce.

October 17, 1989, the Gerold-Verwaltungs-Gesellschaft mbH in Tettau had appointed Kurt Neubauer as Managing Director, but by 1992 the Gerold Company was struggling for survival.  Of the 130 employees, 39 employees resigned before the year’s end. However, financial challenges persisted, and the company accumulated substantial debt.

1993 – New Beginnings and Struggles

In 1993, the company faced financial difficulties and underwent management changes.  Günter Gerold resigned from the company for personal reasons and the operations were taken over temporarily by Albert Schütz, who had resigned from that position after just a few months. On April 1, 1993, the “Neue Presse” reported, “Gross errors logged in the management bankruptcy procedure for Gerold.” The cause of the pending bankruptcy cited inside issues and lack of innovation and gross errors in the management of the company, as the problem, not the bad economic situation.  The Gerold company had a total of 5.5 million dollars in debt.

A few investors together with a bank took over the business, renaming it the New Porcelain Company, Ltd.  On April 1, 1993, a partnership agreement was made and formed with partners Hermann Spindler, Alfonso Spindler, Rudi Draus, Gunter Heinz, and Dieter Weller.  As CEO, Dieter Weller was determined and promised in November of 1993 before the members and guests of honor of the co-partners to build more and secure jobs.  He further reported that a new furnace was put in operation and production was started on 11/1/1993 with 12 employees.

By December 1994, after nearly two years, former employees had received only a portion of their outstanding wages.  After thorough negotiations, and great use of the trade union IG Chemi-Papier-Keraki, Managing Director, Richard Rau, would pay out at least 360,000 Marks for the 104 employees at the time.

1997 – Porzellanfabrik Gerold Kueps

In 1997, the company’s ownership changed hands, and it became Porzellanfabrik Gerold Kueps, owned by the Seltmann Widen Group.  The facility was remodeled and unfortunately, many of the original molds were destroyed during this transition, but the ill-fated company once again failed and was forced to cease operations in 2002. Many of the unemployed skilled porcelain painters could find work in the local glass, wood, and plastic plants.  Some fell by the wayside.

Today, Gerold Kueps is a subsidiary of the Seltmann Weiden Group, but they no longer produce any products using the Gerold name. 

For a short time, the facility in Tettau was a museum and open for tours to the guests of a local hotel, but as of now, the building is vacant.

Legacy and Impact

Gerold Porzellan left an indelible mark on the porcelain industry, producing over 12,000 products, including household items and exquisite figurines.  The company employed skilled artisans, leaving behind a legacy of craftsmanship that rivals porcelain makers like Nymphenburg and Meissen.

Despite the challenges and changing market dynamics, Gerold figurines remain cherished for their soft, muted colors and whimsical charm.  The company’s history is a testament to the enduring appeal of fine porcelain craftsmanship.

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Ernst Mueller

On 3/28/17, I was contacted by the grandson, Frieder Dürr, of one of Gerold Porzellan’s artists, Ernst Mueller, who was a talented porcelain painter. He worked between 1937 and 1940 for Gerold. Frieder writes:

"Granddad was the chief of the art department. He lived from 1890 to 1973. He was the leader of the art department "underglaze porcelain" at the famous FRAUREUTH factory, later Schaubach-Kunst, Gerold & Co, Karl Ens as well!" Frieder Dürr

"I was the last apprentice porcelain painter at Gerold-Porzellan in the early 1990s. Just a few months after I started my training, Gerold went bankrupt and, after my vocational school week, the business continued under the name Neue Porzellangesellschaft mbH until 1998. After my training, I was allowed to attend the porcelain technical school in Selb because the managing director at the time, Mr. Weller, saw more in me and wanted me to be trained as a designer. At the end of this training, I still had to complete my community service, but in the meantime, I was always working on designs for the Neue Porzellangesellschaft mbH."

"I enjoyed looking at your website and immediately felt like I was transported back decades to my youth. I heard the big clock ticking in the painter's workshop and smelled the turpentine of the paints and the varnish of the decals and enjoyed the jokes I could make with my old colleague Elmar, who drew the horsehair-thin lines of the onion pattern decoration with the patience of an angel while I was in the room. For the first few weeks, I was bored and had to draw lines, dots, C and S curves with a brush to learn the staffage."

"On the occasion of the kiln inauguration in 1993, every employee of the factory received a beer mug with the factory coat of arms and date. I very much wanted the beer mug and my master said that I would only get it if I drank the contents. I didn't like beer then and still don't, especially since I had to walk home afterward - back then the road between Tettau and my hometown of Neuenbau didn't yet exist. In addition to the border path with concrete slabs of the inner-German border, which separated Tettau and Neuenbau until 1990, there was only a forest path that I always had to cover by bike until I got my driver's license and a car."

"The historical overview on your site is quite conclusive. Maybe it's a translation error because when it was founded in 1904 you wrote that it was the result of a dispute in the old factory, i.e. the KÖNIGLICH PRIVILEGIERTEN PORCELAN FACTORY TETTAU. It would be true that it was a strike by the workforce and that the old Farbik did not respond adequately to the workers' demands.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you when Mr. Weller started working as managing director. He previously worked at the Thuringian porcelain factory in Sitzendorf and always raved that they could paint better there. Mr. Weller bought my father's cousin's childhood home. She was born Döbrich, and her father was a shareholder and painting director. Her brother Bernd Döbrich was a pattern painter and developed, for example, Gerold's onion pattern decor. In any case, the house was just a stone's throw from the factory on a slope. I only got to know and love my “aunt” Christa, as I called her, after the fall of the Wall in 1989. She told Mr. Weller that she would only sell her parents' house if I also got a teaching contract. Now I was not without talent and Mr. Weller wanted to train and shape me as the future head of the decoration department."

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The Artistry of Gerold Porzellan 

From Dresden-style Figurines to Whimsical Creations

Gerold Porzellan was not merely a company; it was a sanctuary of artistry, where skilled hands molded porcelain into timeless masterpieces.  From the exquisite Dresden-style figurines to whimsical creations reminiscent of Hummel, Gerold’s artisans showcased unparalleled craftsmanship.  The figurines, with their soft muted colors of blue, pink, gray, and green, captivated the hearts of collectors worldwide.

The company’s artistic prowess was not confined to its figurines alone.  Gerold Porzellan’s repertoire included glazed and biscuit porcelain, each piece a testament to the master of its craftsmen.  The delicate artistry of Gerold’s creations mirrored the enchanting aura of Lladro while embracing the playfulness of Hummel.

During a brief stint, Gerold Porzellan ventured into vibrant hand-painted figurines, attempting to compete with the allure of Hummel’s colorful palette.  However, aficionados of Gerold Porzellan found solace in the original figurines, appreciating the subtle elegance of muted tones.

 

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Legacy and Remembrance

Gerold Porzellan in the Modern World

Although Gerold Porzellan’s physical presence has faded into history, its legacy lives on through the hands that crafted its porcelain treasures.  Today, collectors cherish Gerold’s creations preserving the artistry and heritage of a bygone era.  The company’s products, once gracing households and collectors’ shelves, are now sought-after relics, reminiscent of a time when artistry knew no bounds.

Through the dedicated efforts of collectors, historians, and enthusiasts like Frieder Durr, the grandson of Gerold Porzellan artist Ernst Mueller, the stories of Gerold’s artisans continue to echo.  Their dedication, creativity, and passion for porcelain painting have left an indelible mark on the world of fine craftsmanship.

As we celebrate the artistry of Gerold Porzellan, we honor the artisans who breathed life into porcelain, transforming clay into enchanting figurines.  Their legacy reminds us of the timeless beauty of handmade creations and the importance of preserving the heritage of traditional craftsmanship.

Model # 6207

 

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