History of the Zeller Ceramics

Even in earlier times, several potters (Hafner) in Zell produced everyday and cooking utensils, later also stove tiles. They found clays and quartz sand in the surrounding area.
In 1795, the master potter Ferdinand Schreiber founded the town pottery. Since then, 6 generations and 13 members of the Schreiber family have practised the ceramic craft.

1790
The city council of Zell allows Joseph Anton Burger to produce faience. Burger experiments with white-firing earthenware.

1807
After receiving permission from the Grand Duke, Joseph Anton Burger founds one of the first earthenware factories in Germany with Jakob Ferdinand Lenz from Lahr.
They dig the suitable clay at the nearby Geisberg in the Schuttertal, quartz and pebbles in the surroundings of Zell).
Franz Anton Schmider (“Graf Magga” of Hansjakob’s story) and Erhard Junghans (later the founder of the Schramberg clock factory) are among those who work as engravers.
Employment rises to 110 workers.

1828
Gottfried Ferdinand Lenz and Wilhelm Schnitzler take over the factory.

1839
Production of porcelain, for which this round kiln with 3 firing chambers is later built (from around 1860); it is the only one in Germany that is largely preserved in its original form and can be walked on. The porcelain clay (kaolin) comes from Limoges, central France.

1846-1861
Gold medals at industrial exhibitions in Karlsruhe, Munich and Bern attest to the craftsmanship and artistic quality of the porcelain from Zell.

1854
Health insurance for porcelain painters; 1859 for all workers.

1869
G. F. Lenz successors sell the factory to Bruno Prössel from Berlin.

1874
Carl Schaaff from Lahr buys the factory.
New boom with 365 workers and 80 porcelain painters. Firing takes place in 3 porcelain, 2 earthenware and muffle kilns.

1760
Hammerschmiede, lastly heavy spar mill.

1864
Bernhard Schaible produces cooking utensils and building ornaments (terracotta).

1874
Haager, Hoerth and Co. fire earthenware; 1 circular kiln for pre-firing, 2 for glost firing, each with a firing chamber.

1890
Georg Schmider becomes a partner in the company with 150 employees.
From 1894 Elisabeth Schmidt-Pecht designs hand-painted décors; including the award-winning “Favorite” (1897).

1898
Head painter Karl Schöner designs the popular “Cock and Hen” decor.

1907
Georg Schmider unites the upper and lower factories.

1920
Over 500 employees are employed; extensive exports.

1934
Heinrich Haiss takes over the management.

1942
Closure of porcelain production; from then on limited to earthenware.

1953
First electric tunnel kiln. Renovation of production technology and building.

1957
Highest level of employment after the Second World War with 390 employees. Günter Haiss, Eberhard Rinkenbach and Josef Harter manage the company.

2008
“Zeller Keramik Manufaktur GmbH und Co. KG” continues the tradition.