Vase from Reinhold & Co., Germany, ca. 1910

Small vase from Hugo Reinhold & Co. (height 11 cm), with a beautiful eggplant and brown glaze. The pottery was situated in Bunzlau (today Boleslawiec in Poland) which was known (and still is) for its traditional pottery. However, in an attempt to produce pottery of a higher standard, a pottery school (Fachschule) was established in 1897 along with a number of smaller potteries producing decorative ceramics based on the ideals of the school. Reinhold & Co. was one of these potteries. Production ceased in 1945.

The pottery participated in the World's Fair in Brussels in 1910 and was the subject of an exhibition in Schlesisches Museum in 2009 - 600 objects illustrating the history of Reinhold & Co. were exhibited! There is also useful information to be found at the Keramikmuseum in Boleslawiec, a place I must most definitely make a pilgrimage to at some point! There is also a great site dedicated to Bunzlau pottery - if you click on 'Bunzlauer Töpfereien', you can read about R&C and the other potteries in the area.

Mark: '&' and 'C' inside an 'R' for 'Reinhold & Co.'. This mark was used in the period 1910-1937. I guess this vase is from the 1910's or 1920's. Also the number 508. Some vases have a painted mark; I suspect they are slightly later than this one, but I am not an expert! People seem to collect these vases in Germany - I was lucky to find this on a flea-market in Denmark for a small sum.