A look at the design, market and legacy of Victorian pottery

Sunday, June 16, 2024

The Majolica of Wilhelm Schiller & Son

Schiller & Son was one of the premier majolica factories of the 19th century and one of the most respected in Europe, yet today the company's work is little known outside of Europe and a small community of collectors. We have mentioned Wilhem Schiller before in our profile of the work of Gerbing & Stephan but in this post we will concentrate on the work done by Schiller after the end of his partnership with Friedrich Gerbing.

Bodenbach-Tetchen Bohemia

Wilhelm Leberecht Schiller was born in 1797 and entered the pottery business in apprenticeship under Johann Philipp Leyhn who had a small business making siderolith* pottery pipe bowls in Wermsdorf. In partnership with Friedrich Ludwig Meinulph Gerbing, a fellow worker at Leyhn's factory, he opened a new factory in 1829 in Bodenbach, Schiller & Gerbing. In 1841 they then expanded and opened a small second location in Tetschen. Together they potted a variety of siderolith, earthenware and terra cotta utilitarian and decorative wares. After the death of Gerbing in 1848 the company continued production with Gerbing's widow Karoline until 1850 when differences with Karoline fractured the partnership causing Schiller to leave and to open his own establishment.

Schiller & Gerbing siderolith teapot

Schiller & Gerbing charger

Schiller & Gerbing vase

Schiller & Gerbing siderolith spill vase

Schiller & Gerbing Portland vase

Schiller & Geebig mark 1829-1850

Schiller & Geebig mark 1829-1850

Schiller left Bodenbach-Tetchen and opened his factory, W. Schiller & Sohn, in nearby Obergrund (modern day Horní Podluží, Czechoslovakia) specializing in terracotta, siderolith and earthenware along with a variety of other wares. Upon the invention of the new majolica by Minton in 1851, Schiller also added majolica to his line of earthenware changing the name of the company to Majolikafabrik W. Schiller & Sohn.

Schiller had a distinctive take on Minton's majolica invention that distinguishes it from other manufacturers. His color palette is generally subdued, favoring earth tones and neutrals rather than the bright, garish colors of English and French majolica. There are many exceptions of course.

Obergrund, Bohemia

Obergrund, Bohemia

Schiller & Son majolica tankard

WS&S majolica humidor

WS&S majolica elephant humidor

WS&S majolica train smoke stand


WS&S majolica spoon warmer
Schiller & Sons majolica compote

Schiller & Son majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica compote

Schiller & Son majolica smoker

Schiller & Son majolica garden seat

Schiller & Son majolica mushroom garden seat

Schiller & Son majolica garden seat

Schiller & Son majolica satyr jug

WS&S majolica jug

WS&S marine jug

WS&S marine jug

WS&S majolica ewer

WS&S majolica mythological ewer

WS&S majolica mermaid handled ewer

Schiller & Son majolica charger
Schiller & Son majolica compote

WS&S majolica eagle compote

Shiller majolica Art Nouveau fruit compote
WS&S majolica swan compote
WS&S majolica sleigh

WS&S majolica candlestick

WS&S majolica wall sconce

WS&S majolica frog wall pockets

WS&S majolica oval plate

WS&S majolica honeypot

WS&S majolica dragon handled vase
WS&S majolica compote

WS&S majolica vase

WS&S majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica vase

WS&S majolica vase

WS&S majolica snake handled urn

WS&S majolica vase

WS&S majolica Renaissance Revival vase

WS&S majolica classical revival urn

WS&S Art Nouveau majolica vase

WS&S majolica fish vase

Schiller & Son Renaissance Revival majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica Art Nouveau floral compote
Schiller & Son majolica Renaissance Revival center

Schiller & Son satyr compote  

WS&S majolica satyr urn

WS&S majolica Egyptian vases

WS&S alligator teapot and sugar, a copy of a Wedgwood design

WS&S majolica Egyptian box

Schiller & Son majolica wall plaque

Schiller & Son majolica soldier and lion

Schiller & Son peacock vase

Schiller & Son majolica musician, one of a series of six

Schiller & Son majolica frog horn player

Schiller & Son majolica frog accordion player

Schiller & Son majolica frog horn player

Schiller & Son majolica frog drummer

Schiller & Son majolica frog flute player

WS&S majolica lion

WS&S majolica dog

Schiller & Son majolica owl

WS&S alligator humidor

Schiller & Son majolica goat condiment

WS&S majolica jardiniere and pedestal

WS&S majolica Art Nouveau planter

Schiller & Son majolica planter

WS&S majolica planter

WS&S majolica planter

WS&S majolica planter

Schiller & Son majolica tulip jardiniere

Schiller & Son morning glory majolica jardiniere

WS&S majolica Art Nouveau jardiniere

Schiller & Son majolica jardiniere

The company frequently combined areas of shiny glaze with areas of matte glaze. The design aesthetic of continental majolica is also significantly different from the design influences pervasive throughout the English and French wares but more in line with the baroque and rococo aesthetic popular in Central Europe: Germany, Austria and Bohemia. The craftsmanship however is among the finest of majolica manufacturers.

Schiller & Son majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica Alhambrian vase

Schiller & Son majolica Alhambrian vase

Schiller & Son majolica ewer

WS&S majolica dolphin handled vase

Schiller & Son majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica vase

WS&S majolica two handled vase

WS&S majolica vase

Schiller & Son majolica urn

Schiller & Son majolica ewer

WS&S majolica Renaissance Revival vase

WS&S majolica ewer

WS&S majolica elephant and lion vase

Schiller & Son majolica basket
Schiller & Son center on stand
WS&S majolica compote

WS&S majolica clock garniture.set

After Wilhelm Schiller died in the late 1800s, his son Eduard took over ownership of the factory keeping the Majolikafabrik W. Schiller & Sohn name. He ran it until 1914 when labor and materials shortages resulting from the outset of WW1 forced the company to close.

Schiller majolica is usually signed with an impressed WW&S mark or applied pad and catalog number. Prices vary with large intricate pieces commanding premium prices.

WS&S mark c.1880



WS&S mark c.1880

*siderolith is a refined earthenware product, often varnished., most popular in Central Europe