Porcelain, earthenware, ceramics

Porcelain Factory Until the beginning of the 19th century, only farmers and craftsmen lived in Fraureuth. During the industrialization of Germany, Fraureuth also became an industrial center. Textile and spinning crafts initially experienced the greatest boom in the immediate vicinity. An established workshop for wool combing, founded by Georg Beck in the center of Fraureuth in 1802, has been documented. In 1818, the craftsmen joined together to form a mixed guild. It initially comprised 28 masters and by 1843, there were already 78. In the mid-19th century, the production profile of the Beck company was changed. Georg Bruno Fedisch, the grandson of Georg Beck, was supposed to enter his grandfather's business. However, it seemed that he did not like this work because he eventually went to Glauchau and worked at a textile factory there for eight years. From his relative, he learned about the enticing possibilities of porcelain production and went to the Bohemian town of Klösterle. There he became acquainted with the secrets of porcelain production from Czech porcelain masters. Upon his return to Fraureuth in 1865, he began transforming the old wool combing workshop into a modern porcelain factory. Together with his second cousin, Arved von Römer, the owner of the neighboring Unterplatz estate (now Steinplatz), he founded the "Remer and Fedisch Fraureuth Porcelain Factory" in 1865. Czech porcelain manufacturers trained the local workers. Production was then able to start in 1867 with 60 workers and two round kilns. The factory constantly expanded, eventually occupying an area of 73,328 m2. Later, there were 12 large kilns operating in 29 buildings, and in 1885, there were 600 workers. Shortly before World War I, there were 1,500 workers. The production utilized spar and kaolin minerals from Bohemia and Bavaria, as well as coal from the mining area of Zwickau. The developed products were sold worldwide. Sample stores in Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, and London, as well as representatives in Paris and Milan, supported sales. The residents of Fraureuth pride themselves in their marvelous porcelain factory.Roit initially received its arcanists from Bavaria and Bohemia.

After the death of Bruno Fedish in 1885, Fedish's widow and Remer transformed the factory into a joint-stock company in 1891. Work at the factory was piecework and was difficult. Constant alternation of heat and cold, drafts, water, dust, managing extensive transportation - uphill and downhill almost without technical means - strained people. Many porcelain manufacturers suffered from exhaustion, wasting disease, and tuberculosis, and many died young.

The factory had many social security facilities, such as a drawing school, cafeteria, savings bank, hospital, water supply, and fire department. There were also sharp disputes between the well-organized workers and the community. In 1911, for example, there was a 26-week strike for improved working and living conditions. In 1912/13, AG faced minor disturbances, which were compensated by technical reorganization. In 1913, businessman Felix Zinger acquired a package of shares from the main shareholder Kommerstädt. He did not receive recognition from Fraureuters.

The First World War did not bring financial losses to the factory. By 1916, sales surpassed the highest pre-war levels. At the 1916 Leipzig Autumn Fair, the company presented novelties in shape, color, and decor, which critics praised as "exquisitely beautiful." During the war, the Fraureuth company depicted emperors, kings, zeppelins, and submarines on vases and plates, but otherwise remained true to its principle: what they did was practical, simple, and beautiful. The company's principle was: porcelain should bring pleasure!

In the middle of 1919, Fraureuth acquired the Wallendorfer manufactory in the Thuringian Forest, known for its coffee and tea sets in the Meissen style and figurative sculptures. Painting in Lichte was attached to Wallendorf. This meant division of labor: since then, Fraureuth mainly produced a wide range of everyday and elite tableware at all price ranges.The category. The company's foundation was export, mainly to the USA. National and international shipping lines were also preferred clients.

Inflation had devastating consequences for the company. At this time of total currency devaluation, Fraureuth products were too expensive for the domestic market due to their very good quality. The important domestic business was cut off because only cheap mass-produced goods of low quality could be sold. Money could only be earned abroad. After 1922, an additional 25 million marks went into housing construction and 50 million marks into a new porcelain factory (opened in February 1923), but after a year, things started to decline. The company was drowning in debt. Creditors held onto the money, larger orders had to be rejected. In 1925, Fraureuth shut down tunnel kilns. On September 30, 1925, CEO Zinger left the board of directors. On January 31, 1926, bankruptcy was announced.