Porcelain, earthenware, ceramics

Christian Wilhelm Seltmann, born in 1870 into a family of porcelain painters, was directed by his father to follow in the family's footsteps and spent his childhood on porcelain factories, learning to paint delicate items. At a young age, he was able to create a bowl design approved by American clients, which led to his formal education starting at a technical school located in Teplice-Schönau. He became so skilled in porcelain production that at the age of 26, he was appointed as the head of a factory in Arzberg. The owners did not encourage Christian's creative impulses, and he envied his brother Karl, who owned a local factory in their hometown of Schlottendorf, which dealt with porcelain and ceramics. The only solution was to establish his own production, where he would both own and manage. In 1901, he and his brother Johann opened the Porzellanfabrik Johann Seltmann factory in Fohenstrauss. The business quickly thrived, and the factory's staff grew to 600 people. However, disagreements arose between the brothers, forcing Christian to believe in the principle of "own and manage" once again. Following this principle, Christian left the factory to his brother. With the experience gained, Christian was able to start his own production in 1910, and he chose Weiden as the location. His path was already paved, allowing him to immediately fill the local market with porcelain. With the profits obtained within three years, additional kilns were purchased, requiring new workers, whose number exceeded three hundred. Christian's knowledge went beyond porcelain - he was also interested in lithography and established a workshop in Nuremberg for this purpose. This was followed by the opening of a glass factory. However, Christian Seltmann tragically died in 1921. During the military and post-war period, Christian Seltmann's factory was managed by his widow, Katarina Seltmann. She not only managed to preserve the factory, which now had a staff of more than six hundred, but also expanded the holdings by acquiring a controlling stake in another Bavarian porcelain factory.The text is about the history of the Zeltmann family and their porcelain manufacturing businesses. It explains that the management of the factories was passed down to Zeltmann's sons, Heinrich and Wilhelm. Despite the global crisis and difficult interwar years for Germany, the production of the factories continued successfully. The reduction in the workforce by 1930 can be attributed to the implementation of new equipment, which increased automation and reduced the reliance on manual labor. By the start of World War II, the Zeltmann family's businesses were flourishing. They expanded their holdings by purchasing porcelain manufacturers in Krummennaab and Erbendorf. However, production declined after the declaration of general mobilization, as there were fewer workers available in the factories. Issues with raw material delivery and a sharp decrease in demand for porcelain products further contributed to the decline. The occupation of Bavaria by American forces resulted in the confiscation, conversion, and destruction of buildings in Erbendorf and Krummennaab for military purposes. The restoration process was quick, thanks to the preservation of the workforce and an influx of workers from nearby Czechoslovakia. In 1953, Wilhelm Zeltmann modernized the factory equipment, and four years later, he further expanded his porcelain empire by acquiring a majority of shares in the Königlich privilegierte Porzellanfabrik in Tettau. He was also bestowed with the honorary doctorate from the Munich Technical University. Wilhelm Zeltmann passed away on September 27, 1967. In his will, he symbolically emphasized the principle declared by his father: "own and manage." Wilhelm Zeltmann sincerely continued this principle and developed the inherited businesses further.He believed that it was not the numerous board of directors that led the enterprise to success, but the will of the owners who are passionate about their work. The heirs accepted Wilhelm's will and kept the factories in the family's hands, inviting proven specialists to fulfill their intended tasks. For example, from 1982 to 2003, Gerhard Dörling worked here as the technical director. The heirs continued on the path of expansion by acquiring a series of porcelain enterprises in Thuringia after the merger. And even now, Christian Seltmann remains not only one of the largest producers of German porcelain, but also a family-owned business.