As one would expect of one of the largest and most famous potteries in Europe, Sarreguemines has had a long history.
Founded 1790 in an old oil mill by a river, by brothers Nicolas-Henri and Paul Augustin Jacobi and investor Joseph Fabry the company began modestly, employing about twenty workers making coarse surfaced utilitarian earthenware for everyday use. Unable to turn a profit, the brothers Jacobi sold their shares of the pottery in 1799 to partner Fabry and his Bavarian friend Paul Utzschneider.
Nicolas-Henri Jacobi
Paul Utzschneider (1771-1844)
Utzschneider was an ambitious man with a working knowledge of the pottery industry. Under his management the company expanded the company’s product line adding new decorating techniques and refining its output utilizing English techniques he had studied abroad.
With the company’s successful exposure at international exhibitions—aided by the British blockade of goods during the Napoleonic Wars—the factory’s products attracted the patronage of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1810 he placed orders from the company for ceramics to decorate the imperial palaces. Pleased with the results Napoleon bestowed on Utzschneider the Legion of Honor, assuring the company's future success.
Napoleon's Palais de Fontainebleau
Interior of the Palais de Fontainebleau
The company’s business grew, facilitating the need for additional potteries nearby. By the time of Utzschneider’s 1836 retirement the pottery had already grown to be a formidable force in the industry. Management of the factory, was left to his daughter Pauline's husband, Alexandre Godfroi Fréderéic Maximilien de Geiger who brought in capital from the families Boch de Mettlach and Villeroy de Vaudrevange—who had merged their separate potteries in 1836 to form Villeroy & Boch—to expand the business. He built three factories between 1853 and 1869. The new company, now named Utzschneider et Cie, produced earthenware, faïence and tiles and by 1850, porcelain. It later began the production of majolica.
Alexandre de Geiger (1808-1891)
In 1870 Napoleon III declared war on Prussia. His subsequent loss led to the 1871 annexation of the Mosselle—a northeastern section of France surrounding the Mosselle river where the pottery was located—by Germany. Alexandre de Geiger then left Sarreguemines fleeing to Paris. Many of the company’s workers also left, emigrating to the Trenton potteries in the United States. His son, Paul de Geiger, took over management.
Paul de Geiger with his daughter
He expanded the business by building two additional facilities in France in order to retain the company’s French identity while evading prohibitive (15%) taxes between the two countries. He chose Digoin, which was managed by Félix Sthème de Jubécourt, as well as in Vitry-le-François.
The Sarreguemines facility at Digoin
The Sarreguemines facility at Digoin
The interior of the Sarreguemines facility at Digoin
The interior of the Sarreguemines facility at Digoin
The interior of the Sarreguemines facility at Digoin c.1923
The interior of the Sarreguemines facility at Digoin
The interior of the Sarreguemines facility at Digoin
Both facilities expanded Sarreguemines' faience and majolica production, with de Geiger overseeing production of tiles for the original Paris Metro.* This became the golden age of majolica production at Sarreguemines.
The majolica from Sarreguemines is among the most well known produced on the European continent. Probably the best known of all is the Sarreguemines fruit series which has been in continuous production by both Sarreguemines and later by other companies for close to 150 years.
Sarreguemines majolica fruit platter
Sarreguemines majolica fruit basked
Sarreguemines majolica jam jar
Sarreguemines majolica strawberry basket
Sarreguemines majolica fruit platter
The company is also well known for their face or character pitchers, both human and animal.
Sarreguemines catalog page with head jugs
Sarreguemines majolica face pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica face pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher
Sarreguemines bearded character jugSarreguemines majolica character pitcher, copied by Wardle Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher, Uncle Sam
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher, Joseph Chamberlain
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher, Le Noir
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher, Napoleon
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica character pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica bulldog pitcher
Sarreguemines horse head jug
Sarreguemines majolica ram jug
As a result of their long production life Sarreguemines produced majolica in every conceivable shape and use, always with the finest craftsmanship.
Sarreguemines catalog cover
Sarreguemines catalog page
Sarreguemines catalog page
Sarreguemines catalog page
Sarreguemines catalog page Pitchers of all kinds…
Sarreguemines majolica puppy pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica hare pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica pig pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica hare pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica monkey pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica penguin pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica rooster pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica advertising chicken pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica elephant pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica boar jug
Sarreguemines bamboo jug, a copy of an English original
Sarreguemines majolica Punch jug
Sarreguemines majolica Judy jug
Sarreguemines Snowman jug
Sarreguemines majolica pine one pitcher
Sarreguemines majolica harvest pitching
Wall pieces…
Sarreguemines majolica Plat Chasse au loup Sarreguemines majolica Plat Chasse au loup in a different colorway
Sarreguemines majolica quail wall plaque
Sarreguemines majolica lavabo spout
Sarreguemines majolica turtle lavabo
Sarreguemines majolica shell lavabo
Sarreguemines majolica lavabo Sarreguemines majolica wasp wall pocket
Sarreguemines majolica ladybug wall pocket
Jardinieres and vases…
Sarreguemines majolica griffin footed jardinieres and stand
Sarreguemines majolica center
Sarreguemines majolica vase
Sarreguemines majolica lion jardiniere
Sarreguemines majolica vase Sarreguemines majolica vase
Sarreguemines majolica two handled jardinier
Sarreguemines majolica jardiniere and pedestal
Sarreguemines majolica oak jardiniere and pedestal
Sarreguemines majolica pedestal
Sarreguemines majolica pedestal
Sarreguemines majolica jardiniere
Sarreguemines majolica jardiniere
Sarreguemines majolica dolphin handled jardiniere
Sarreguemines majolica morning glory vase
Sarreguemines majolica floral vase
Sarreguemines majolica vase
Sarreguemines majolica duck planter
Sarreguemines majolica pine one vase
Sarreguemines majolica fish vase
Sarreguemines majolica cherub vase
Sarreguemines majolica fawn vase
Sarreguemines majolica shell vase
Sarreguemines majolica enameled bird vase
Sarreguemines majolica card holder and vase
Sarreguemines majolica dolphin vase
Smoking accessories…
Sarreguemines majolica Punch and Toby humidor
Sarregueminrs majolica match striker
Sarreguemines majolica match striker
Sarreguemines majolica match striker
Sarreguemines majolica barrel humidor
Sarreguemines majolica smoking accessory
Sarreguemines majolica monkey humidor
Sarreguemines majolica candle holder
Eggs cups…
Sarreguemines majolica rooster egg cup
Sarreguemines majolica monkey egg cup
Sarreguemines majolica bird egg cup
Sarreguemines majolica chicks egg cup
Specialty serving pieces, terrines and compotes…
Sarreguemines majolica egg basket
Sarreguemines majolica squash tureen
Sarreguemines majolica grape server
Sarreguemines majolica crawfish handled tureen,
part of a large set of matching wares
Sarreguemines majolica tureen Sarreguemines majolica chestnut server
Sarreguemines majolica sardine box Sarreguemines majolica candy box
Sarreguemines majolica asparagus tureen
Sarreguemines majolica egg basketSarreguemines majolica pumpkin tureen
Sarreguemines majolica squash tureen
Sarreguemines majolica duck tureen
Sarreguemines majolica duck tureen Sarreguemines majolica bamboo basket
Sarreguemines majolica palm condiment Sarreguemines majolica cherub
Sarreguemines majolica strawberry server
Sarreguemines majolica asparagus serverSarreguemines majolica character teapot
Sarreguemines majolica character teapot Sarreguemines majolica character teapot
Sarreguemines majolica dolphin compote
Sarreguemines majolica sweet ear compote
Dessert and oyster plates…
Sarreguemines majolica strawberry plate
Sarreguemines majolica chestnut plate
Sarreguemines majolica dessert plate Sarreguemines majolica pine plate
Sarreguemines majolica dessert plate
Sarreguemines majolica plate Sarreguemines majolica strawberry plate
Sarreguemines majolica dessert plate
Sarreguemines majolica chestnut plate
Sarreguemines majolica chestnut platter
Sarreguemines majolica palm leaf platter
Sarreguemines majolica cabbage leaf plate Sarreguemines majolica master oyster plates
Sarreguemines majolica oyster plate
Sarreguemines majolica oyster plate
Figural pieces...
Sarreguemines majolica Foo dog
Sarreguemines majolica donkey rider
and banks…
Sarreguemines majolica woman with goose bank
Sarreguemines majolica sweeping woman bank
Sarreguemines majolica policeman bank
Sarreguemines majolica tuna player bank
Sarreguemines majolica man with wheel barrel bank
An elderly Paul de Geiger (1837-1913)
At Paul de Geiger’s death in 1913 and the onset of WWI, the company was split in two with the German half at the Moselle under different management from the French half at Digoin and Vitry-le-François. After the war and the area’s reunification with France, the two factories combined again under the name Sarreguemines-Digoin-Vitry-le-François managed by the Cazal family, relatives of the Villeroy family. With the occupation of France by Germany during WWII the factory was managed by Luitwin von Boch. After the end of the war the Cazal family resumed management of Sarreguemines through the 1970s.
In 1978, Lunéville-Badonviller-Saint-Clément bought majority stake in the factory. The production of pottery for the home ended in 1979 and the factory concentrated on the production of architectural floor and wall tiles.
The factory in Vitry-le-François produced sanitary wares, Digoin produced dining ceramics while the Lunévile-Saint-Clément factory produced decorative pieces. Many of the older majolica animal pitchers continued in production using non toxic glazes.
Marks and Dating
The creation of Sarreguemines majolica designs can be roughly dated by the catalog number on the base.
- N° 300 c. 1875
- N° 500 c. 1880
- N° 1000 c. 1885
- N° 1500 c. 1890
- N° 3100 c. 1900
- N° 3500 c. 1905
- N° 4000 c. 1910
- N° 4500 c. 1913
- N° 5000 c. 1920
Towards the final years of the 19th century and the first years the 20th century manufacturing dates were also impressed on pieces.
The above marks indicate that the design was created
between 1900-1905 while the piece itself was made in December of 1904.
These marks indicates that the design pre-dated 1875 while the
piece was manufactured in one of the German factories in June of 1899
In the U.K. the Merchandise Marks Act of 1887 required that goods imported into the United Kingdom required place of origin placed on the item. The McKinley Tariff Act in the United States required the same thing. As a result this country designation was added between 1890-1909 on Sarreguemines goods while the phrase MADE IN was added after 1910 Goods not intended for export did not need this.
While the company’s large range of non majolica wares had a complex series of ink marks, majolica was more simply marked by either impressed and/or ink marks. These also allow for dating. The most common marks found on early majolica are impressed.
Indicates production after 1890
Indicates production before 1890
These marks are sometimes combined with ink marks.
Indicates production after 1890
Later pieces used simple ink marks of various types, often indicating factory or origin.
Mark in use between 1890-1918
Mark used after 1890
Mark used between 1875-1900
Mark used between 1894-1919
Mark used between 1920-1950
Mark indicating production at the Degoin factory
Mark used indicating production after 1978
In 2002 a group of employees as stockholders tried to resurrect the company’s production. This attempt did not last long however. In 2007 production stopped and the company was liquidated. After a history of 217 years the factory st Sarreguemines was gone.
If you’d like to learn more about the potteries at Sarreguemines there is book available, in French, by Alain Benedick available through book dealers.
Today you can visit the Sarreguemines museum, created in buildings erected by Paul de Geiger, along the Saar river on the border between Germany and France.
Musée de la Faïence de Sarreguemines
* Many of these tiles have since been replaced by other tiles during remodeling
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