Hutschenreuther porcelain thimble
Name/Title
Hutschenreuther porcelain thimbleEntry/Object ID
2021.1.189Description
White and blue porcelain thimble with floral design, part of the Franklin Mint "Thimbles of the World’s Greatest Porcelain Houses" series. Retailer description: "The striking cobalt blue design on the Hutschenreuther thimble is said to have been brought to Europe by that famous traveler Marco Polo. Strangely enough, it appeared to some observers that the design element consisted of onions, although it contains only pomegranates, peonies, blossoms and leaves. At any rate, it was called 'blue onion,' a name that remains to this day. This distinctive pattern is closely associated with the company established by Carl Magnus Hutschenreuther who was born in 1794 and learned the trade of the porcelain decorator at his father’s plant in Thuringia. While traveling about the country selling his decorated porcelains, he came to Honenberg castle in Upper Franconia, the former home of an aristocratic Bohemian family. Since feldspar, quarts and kaolin were in ample supply throughout the region, and the wood for firing was available, he selected this site to found his own company. In 1814 he opened a decorating plant, and eight years later began the production of porcelain. After his death in 1845 his wife and grown children continued the operation. In 1857 one of Hutschenreuther’s sons, Lorenz, established a company in the neighboring town of Selb, and both firms prospered and expanded. After operating independently for more than 110 years, the family firms united in 1970 as Hutschenreuther A.G. The production of this highly respected company now includes the finest porcelain dinnerware, art sculptures and fine tableware."Collection
Marianne Kerr Thimble CollectionCategory
Tools