Pirkenhammer

Pirkenhammer Porcelain is a porcelain manufacturer based in the Czech Republic town of Karlovy Vary also known as Carlsbad.

The porcelain factory was established in 1802 in Karlovy Vary using the tradename Pirkenhammer and the symbol of crossed hammers. It rapidly developed a good reputation and by the 1820s was considered the best producer of porcelain in Bohemia (an area that is now part of the Czech Republic). They won a gold medal in 1839 at the Vienna World Fair and the awarding committee made the comment:
“ a good taste in shape, clear body, smooth glaze and high quality of printing”

In 1835, with the gilding of ceramics now deemed to be safe, Pirkenhammer became renowned worldwide for producing gilded porcelain. In 1868 the artist Andre Carriere became the chief designer and the firm provided a studio for him in Paris in 1874.

Pirkenhammer was nationalised by the communist government in 1945 along with all the other Czechoslovakian potteries and became the centre for research and development.

Pirkenhammer has continued to produce high quality and sought after goods and was chosen by the new President of the Czech Republic as the provider of porcelain wares for the presidential palace.

The company has gone on to refine its processes and continues to produce high tech porcelain under the management of the Russian designer Alexey Narovlyansky.