PM&M / Related / Silesia :

Tiefenfurt (Parowa)

[1] : Porzellanfabrik und -malerei K. Steinmann (1868 until 1938)

There is not much information on the business of Kuno Steinmann and many sources only state that he at one time imitated the KPM Berlin eagle mark and added the initials 'K.S.'; the same sources also claim that this mark was used around 1840. This however conflicts with the documented founding date of 1868, so either there was a former Steinmann-owned decoration business involved or the mark never belonged to Steinmann.

Business at first was concentrated on producing normal tableware but Steinmann soon increased the product range, adding decorative porcelain and many very well decorated coffee and tea sets that were mainly intended for export to the US as well as East India and Australia. The company later on also introduced an own Old Ivory series just like Reinhold Schlegelmilch and the ⇒Porzellanfabrik Hermann Ohme. Many Ohme collectors regard all other manufacturers as being imposters on the Old Ivory market but one should keep in mind that the German termed Elfenbeinporzellan had been produced by others much earlier and Old Ivory was simply a rough translation which had also been used before.

Compared with many other companies the factory had a fairly constant workforce over time and it appears that every expansion process was very well planned. Steinmann preferred factory modernization over employing numerous new workers and so the numbers show 225 workers for the year 1905 followed by 250 workers in 1913 and 260 workers for 1930. Following the worldwide economic crisis in 1929 the factory shifted away from porcelain and concentrated on oven proof ceramics.

[2] : Porzellan- und Steinzeugfabrik Walther Becht G.m.b.H. (1938 until 1945)

The few fragments known about the demise of the Steinmann business were very frustrating. Various sources indicated that the partly Jewish Steinmann family was forced to simply stop production by the Nazis in 1938, but I eventually found that the family actually sold the company in 1932 during the aftermath of the US stock market crash. Fact is that the Steinmann company name was used unchanged until it was finally removed from the register in 1938 and replaced by the name of the new owner.

Comment(s)

Next to the mark types shown here, Steinmann also registered various trademarks including TONZELLAN, registered at the R.W.Z.R. under №·497·326 on November 8th 1937.

A few marks used by Steinmann carry the very peculiar addition 'SILESIEN', a mix of the English term 'SILESIA' with German 'SCHLESIEN'. Many self-proclaimed experts (especially in the USA) claimed that these marks were fakes. Not only has it more than once been proven incorrect (by comparing molds and decorations), but an even better proof of origin can be found in the archives of the ⇒R.W.Z.R. which clearly show that the marks were registered with exactly that wording, 'SILESIEN'. Which means that these items were (and always have been) legit. I do not want to know how many of these items were forever lost, thrown away or destroyed simply because some 'expert' did not do his homework.

Marks

Image 1-01

Used between 1868 and 1918, the 'HOHENZOLLERN' and 'GERMANY' mark.

Image 1-02

Used between 1868 and 1918, here an example in red.

Image 1-03

Used between 1887 and 1918. Registered 1887 but constantly claimed to have been used by Steinmann around 1840 (!) which simply cannot be.

Image 1-04

Used between 1900 and 1932, only found on various special series.
(Picture by usc103)

Image 1-05

Used between 1915 and 1938, 'K.St.T.' crown above 'SILESIEN', registered at the ⇒R.W.Z.R. under №·207·660 on December 18th 1915.

Image 1-06

Used between 1915 and 1938, the 'K.St.T.' crown above 'SILESIA' (here in black).
(Picture by Hil Nieland)

Image 1-07

Used between 1915 and 1938, the 'K.St.T.' crown above 'SILESIA' (here in gold).
(Picture by Hil Nieland)

Image 1-08

Used between 1915 and 1938, same as before but with 'MADE IN GERMANY' addition.

Image 1-09

Used between 1915 and 1938, the 'K.St.T.' crown above 'GERMANY'.

Image 1-10

Used between 1915 and 1938, the 'K.St.T.' (for 'K. Steinmann Tiefenfurt') crown above 'SILESIA' and 'GERMANY'.

Image 1-11

Claimed to have been used between 1919 and 1938, 'STEINMANN' above the crown.

Image 1-12

Claimed to have been used between 1919 and 1938, 'STEINMANN' directly above 'TIEFENFURT'.

Image 1-13

Used between 1919 and 1932, on items decorated in 'DRESDEN' style only.
(Picture by usc103)

Image 1-14

Used between 1919 and 1932, the 'OLD IVORY' series mark in blue.
(Picture by usc103)

Image 1-15

Used between 1919 and 1932, the 'OLD IVORY' series mark in green.
(Picture by usc103)

Image 1-16

Used from 1928 until 1932, shows 'SILESIEN' above a different crown. Was also used with 'SILESIA' instead.

Image 1-17

Registered at the R.W.Z.R. under №·397·259 on January 19th 1929, claimed use until 1938. Not used often as Tuppack (Tiefenfurt) used a similar one.

Image 1-18

Used between 1932 and 1938, with 'SILESIA' only.

Image 1-19

Used between 1932 and 1938, with 'SILESIEN' and 'GERMANY'.

Image 1-20

Used between 1933 and 1935, the two-colored 65th anniversary mark found only on some series.

Image 1-21

Example of the previous mark, 'BARBERINA' was the name of the series.

Image 1-22

Used between 1936 and 1938, the Steinmann-own 'BÄRBEL' trademark.

Image 2-23

Used between 1938 and 1945, mark of the Steinmann successors.

Image 2-24

Used between 1938 and 1945, additions read: 'FEINSTEINZEUG' and ⇒FEUERFEST.