HISTORY OF BELKRAFT FINE CHINA

Konigl. priv.
Porcellanfabrik
Tettau GmbH

POETRY IN PORCELAIN – SINCE 1794

Tettau – this name is closely connected with the oldest history of porcelain.

There is a document that shows that the founding date of the “ROYAL PRIVILEGED PORCELAIN FACTORY TETTAU” was December 28, 1794. In that document the founders of the factory, Georg Christian Friedmann Greiner from cloister Veilsdorf close to Coburg, Germany, and the merchant Johann Friedrich Paul Schmidt, also from Coburg, were granted the right to establish a unique porcelain factory in the district of Lauenstein. Signatories of this decree were the sovereign of Prussia, King Friedrich Wilhelm II, and his minister, Prince Hardenberg.

Prior to this event, the king had an intercession with an eminent natural scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, who was at that time Oberbergmeister – which may be translated to chief miner or mining master – at the mining department in Bayreuth. His profound expertise aided the establishment of the factory.

Georg Christian Friedmann Greiner himself descended from a wide branching porcelain dynasty from Thuringia and was therefore pre-destined for his task. He developed the pure white and transparent TETTAU PORCELAIN body.

Fine porcelain from Tettau was the pleasure of connoisseurs as early as the beginning of the 19th century. A charming richness of shapes and designs was created in the period of the Biedermeier. Playful and precious creations dominated. Richness of ideas and excellent craftsmanship were the determining factors in the history of the factory in the following decades.

Although the two world wars of the 20th century had their influence on Tettau, the factory continued to develop positively.

Only in recent years was a new factory building erected and modern machines were installed. Millions of German marks were invested in order to maintain the great tradition of TETTAU PORCELAIN production, and to secure the working places in that extreme frontier area, which was called, in former times, “the green heart of Germany”.

Porcelain that comes out of the famous porcelain china body of work with its special transparency is the expression of a cultivated life style, which does not change with time, nor does it go out of style. Many original creations, with their great history were sent out into the whole world and are taken care of by their owners or are exhibited in museums.

TETTAU PORCELAIN is still made today with the same craftsmanship and the love of  detail, as it was in days gone by. Due to its high quality standard, this porcelain will outlast  any competition.

Click HERE to read more about the modern history of Royal Tettau.

Most of BelKraft fine china is hand crafted by ROYAL PRIVILEGED PORCELAIN FACTORY TETTAU. (Ebony Rose, Camea, Queens Command, Empress, Candlelight, Pirouette and Springtime) some of BelKraft china is manufactured in Switzerland.