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Mark form used by the predecessor (the then still private union) between 1965 and 1972. Addition reads HANDMALEREI.
This decoration studio developed out of two former privately owned companies in 1972: the Kahlaer Porzellanmanufaktur August Frank and Porzellanmalerei Bauer & Lehmann. The two companies had previously operated as a union and therefore shared a specific mark: a crowned shield containing the word "KAHLA" and the initials "AF/B&L". When the two companies merged and were nationalised in 1972, their mark was altered accordingly, with the "AF/B&L" being replaced with "PMK".
Although the socialist planned economy of the German Democratic Republic was intended as an alternative to capitalist market competition, conflicts over influence, priorities and access to scarce raw materials persisted. Instead, such disputes were transferred from the marketplace to the state bureaucracy, where ministries, industrial conglomerates and political figures competed for production targets and allocations. For years, smaller VEB units were constantly transferred between larger VEB or VVB units or forced to merge with them completely, resulting in a large number of factory names that changed very frequently.
This led to many paradoxical situations; for example, some studios were suddenly forced to use blanks from different factories to those used previously. As was the case here: the VEB Porzellanmalerei Kahla had previously relied mainly on items produced at the Weimar Porzellan facility in Blankenhain and had developed decorations and pattern layouts to match. However, they suddenly had to decorate whatever was delivered, often with dictated patterns.
The same was true of the VEB Porzellanmalerei Kahla, which, after two years as an independent combine, was linked with the Vereinigten Porzellanwerke Kahla in 1974. From then on, it was forced to use the marks dictated by its new parent company. Just two years later, the VEB Porzellanmalerei Kahla received notice that it was to be dissolved, with all assets to be transferred to the Kahla branch of the VEB Porzellanwerk Eisenberg. This company had already received some orders originally intended for the VEB Porzellanmalerei Kahla, and had proven itself capable of providing the same quality while having far better access to road and rail connections.
Image 0112-086-01-01
Mark form used by the predecessor (the then still private union) between 1965 and 1972. Addition reads HANDMALEREI.
Image 0112-086-01-02
Used between 1972 and 1974; includes "KAHLA" and "PMK".
Image 0112-086-01-03
Used between 1972 and 1974; includes "KAHLA" and "PMK" as well as a "HANDMALEREI" addition.