History of Royal Bayreuth China
Royal Bayreuth china has been produced in the same factory in Tettau, Bavaria since 1794. It is the finest and oldest German porcelain producer, and it is highly collectible today. Along with the usual dinnerware and coffee and tea sets, Royal Bayreuth is known for its figurals, scenic porcelain and novelties. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The Royal Bayreuth Company was awarded a permit in 1792 by the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm II and commenced operation in Tettau in 1794. It is located in the Thuringian Hills, nearby what was once the East German border. It has produced quality porcelain through world wars and disasters, and continues today.
Types
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In addition to beautiful dinnerware and tea and coffee sets, Royal Bayreuth also produced highly collectible figural porcelain. They used natural motifs such as vegetables and flowers to create such items as soup tureens and pitchers. Unique novelty items such as the SunBonnet Babies and the Snow Babies have also been very collectible.
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Geography
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Bavaria is a mountainous region that shares borders with Austria, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland. Munich is the largest city in Bavaria. The kaolin or pure white clay used in the manufacture of porcelain was largely imported from the Czechoslovakian province of Bohemia, not far from Bavaria. After World War II this area became the U.S. Zone, and later West Germany.
Identification
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Royal Bayreuth has many different identifying marks, but they usually include the coat of arms of Bavaria, two lions rampant and shield, and often the letter T for Tettau. If the item was made for export to the U.S., it included the words Royal Bayreuth. If it was not intended for export, the mark read Porcelain Factory, Tettau. After World War II, the mark included the words U.S. Zone, which appeared on the porcelain through the late 50s.
Fun Fact
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While Royal Bayreuth is very highly collectible, and rarer pieces can command high prices at auction, less expensive figural and novelty pieces can still be found in flea markets and antique shops. Porcelain is very durable, so the antique pitchers and dinnerware can still be used and make a wonderful addition to the modern table.
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