Germany / Thuringia / Suhl:

Comment:

What really confused collectors and dealers for quite some time is the fact that there were so many 'Schlegelmilch' factories. Although the different firm owners had the same surname, they represented the production efforts of two distinctly un-related families. These facts have been known since 1984, the year that Bernd Hartwich published his results after intensive research on the matter. But this information was not available in America until the English translation was published in the U.S.A. in 1993. The extensive historical research by Ron Capers shows there was no blood relationship between Leonard and Reinhold.

The facts are actually quite simple. The first facility was owned by Reinhold and the other facility was owned by Leonard, who had named his firm after his father, Erdmann. These two operations were in direct competition with each other. The factory owned by Reinhold was subsequently run with his two sons, Ehrhard and Arnold. The latter took over an existing porcelain factory in Tillowitz in 1894, and continued to run it as part of the Reinhold Schlegelmilch enterprise until he died in 1934.

The firm owned by Leonard was later on led by Oscar, Julius Martin, and Carl. Carl opened his own factory in 1882 and Oscar started his own factory in Langenwiesen during 1892. Julius Martin eventually took over the ownership of the Erdmann facility in 1899 after Leonard died.

Porzellanfabrik und -malerei Erdmann Schlegelmilch (1861 until 1937)

This factory was founded and led by Leonard Schlegelmilch who lived between 1823 and 1898. He had named it in memory of his father Erdmann Schlegelmilch, who had lived between 1782 and 1844. This Schlegelmilch facility mainly produced kitchenware, tableware, figurines, collector stuff and coffee or tea sets. After Leonard died in 1899, his son Julius Martin continued business and slowly expanded until they reached their peak employment count of 360 people in 1913. This number dropped down to 250 in 1930 and following the world financial crisis the Erdmann Schlegelmilch facility ceased continuous production between 1933 and 1935, but some limited attempts were made to continue production prior to the final closing in 1937.

Mark Comments:

One of the marks used by this manufacturer is often referred to as the 'beehive' mark, which in reality represents a banded shield used first by the 'k.k. Ärarial-Manufactur Wien' (Royal Porcelain Manufactury) in Vienna (Austria), but because so many people see it as a beehive that is what it has become known as. All 'beehive' marks are extremely ambiguous and problematic because over the years many European porcelain manufacturers 'borrowed' it or invented their own variation, thus making identification very difficult. In case of the beehive used by Erdmann Schlegelmilch though it is easily identifiable as it included a dot. This mark was frequently used on porcelain decorated with mythical, classical or allegorical scenes with borders typically held in deep wine, dark green or cobalt blue.

Germany / Thuringia / Suhl:

Marks

Used around 1900, green version.

Used around 1900, blue version.

No date known, stylized 'ES' mark, red version, with 'DEPON.' under the pattern number '3603'. The 'ES' was also used in green.

No date known, another form of the crown mark.
(Picture by Pat Krusse)

No date known, 'ROYAL SAXE', green version.

No date known, 'ROYAL SAXE', blue version. Nice view of mold number '7020' and pattern number '6636'.

No date known, 'ROYAL SAXE', blue version, note the missing initials 'E.S.', here mold number '5', patter '5774'.

No date known, the 'SUHLA' mark which was used either in red or blue.

Used between 1886 and 1910, 'Swallow' mark type 1, Roentgen wrongly states 1896-1938.
(Picture: Rachel, Pam & Bruce)

Germany / Thuringia / Suhl:

Marks

Used between 1886 and 1910, 'Swallow' mark type 2, Roentgen wrongly states 1896-1938.
(Picture: Rachel, Pam & Bruce)

Used between 1886 and 1910, 'Swallow' mark type 2. This can be found either in gold, red and green.

No date known, another bird-related mark.
(Picture by Max Strachan)

Used from 1902 onwards, 'PROV SAXE.'. Registered at the R.W.Z.R. as number '54 161' on May 16th 1902.

Another example in green.

Yet another green version but this time with stamped 'GERMANY' addition.

No date known, 'beehive'/'Bindenschild' often found in combination with other marks.
(Picture by Markus Lehmeier)

No date known, 'E.S.' mark, blue version.
(Picture: Rachel, Pam & Bruce)

No date known, 'E.S.' mark with date. The '1811' is actually '1861', the confusing 'Prufsia' is correct, it's the double-'s' in old German writing.

Germany / Thuringia / Suhl:

Marks

No date known.
(Picture: Rachel, Pam & Bruce)

No date known.
(Picture: Rachel, Pam & Bruce)

No date known, 'PRUSSIAN CHINA' mark, dark green.

No date known, another 'PRUSSIAN CHINA' mark in black.

No date known, another 'PRUSSIAN CHINA' mark in green.

No date known, here the 'ES' initials on an item made for US retailer 'Burley & Tyrrell' from Chicago.