Description

History of the Nymphenburg Porcelain Factory

The porcelain manufacture Nymphenburg has been handcrafting finest porcelain for 260 years. Porcelain services, figures and objects of the greatest quality and purity have been produced at just this one location in the world – the Nördliches Schlossrondell in Nymphenburg – since the 18th century.

The company achieved world renown with Franz Anton Bustelli from Ticino, who as the model master assumed the artistic directorship at the company from 1754. His rococo designs, and particularly his main body of work – the 16 figures from the Commedia dell’Arte – count undisputedly among the most artistic pieces of his time. 

In the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, it was such people as Friedrich von Gärtner, Adelbert Niemeyer, Josef Wackerle and Wolfgang von Wersin who continued to promote the factory’s fine reputation even through financially difficult times. 

Since its founding Nymphenburg has counted the international high aristocracy as well as embassies, churches and palaces in Germany and other countries among its customers. Its products have received many prizes and may be admired in the world’s major design collections, e.g. the MoMA and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Fondation Nationale in Paris, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien and the Neue Sammlung at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

As one of the last, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg still produces each individual item by hand. A fact that is appreciated by experts and collectors alike.

Professor Theodor Karner born 1884 and died 1966 in Munich.

Prof. Theodor Kärner was one of Germany’s most prestigious artists in porcelain. During his lifetime he sculpted for several porcelain factories, producing beautiful and memorable animal figurines:

Nymphenburg 1905-1918
Rosenthal 1919-1934, 1954+
Allach 1934-1944
Eschenbach 1947-1953
Thomas & Lindner (dates unknown)