Be honest: when was the last time you thought about how a porcelain cup is made?
Probably about as often as you think about how electricity comes out of the socket.
The cup is on the table in the morning, the coffee tastes good, the day begins – everything is wonderful. But before it could take its permanent place in your kitchen cupboard, it has already been on an amazing journey.
And it is precisely this journey that I would like to show you today.
Because in a porcelain factory, the finished product doesn’t just fall out of the back of a machine. If that were the case, we would have far fewer gray hairs and probably a little more free time.
In fact, the production of a single piece of porcelain consists of a large number of steps. Starting with mold making, casting or turning, attaching handles, careful plastering, drying, glazing and firing through to elaborate finishes such as gold painting, hand painting or fine decorations.
Each of these steps requires experience, precision and, above all, patience.
A lot of patience.
Porcelain is a fascinating material. It can be beautiful, elegant and last for generations. At the same time, it sometimes has a character all of its own. You could also say that it is sometimes a little stubborn.
A small mistake, a minimal tension in the material or a tiny irregularity during firing – and the porcelain itself decides that it would rather not be a perfect cup today.
That’s why our employees check every single piece again and again with a trained eye and a great deal of experience. Even today, many operations cannot be automated. They depend on the skills of the people who carry them out.
And that is exactly what makes real craftsmanship.
While many products nowadays travel around the world before they reach the customer, our porcelain is made entirely here in Reichenbach. Every step of the process takes place on site. Every employee contributes to turning an idea into a finished product.
We are proud of this.
At the same time, however, this also means that production in Germany has not become any easier.
Rising energy costs, higher raw material prices, bureaucracy, a shortage of skilled workers and ever new requirements do not make it easy for small and medium-sized production companies in particular. While mass-produced goods are often offered at prices that make you wonder whether the packaging was more expensive than the contents, high-quality handcrafted products are created under completely different conditions.
Anyone producing in Germany today is making a conscious decision in favor of quality, fair jobs and the preservation of craftsmanship.
In short: for the more demanding route.
But also for the more sustainable one.
Because every cup, every plate and every bowl tells a story. The story of people who have mastered their craft. Of experience that has grown over decades. And of the aspiration to make things not as cheaply as possible, but as well as possible.
So the next time you enjoy your morning coffee, perhaps take a closer look at the cup. For your sake, I hope it’s beautiful.
Maybe then you won’t just see porcelain.
But rather the many work steps, the passion and the people behind it.
And if you would like to discover this craftsmanship for yourself, or if you are not even sure whether the porcelain is porcelain when you look at your coffee cup – for heaven’s sake! 🙂 – then visit our factory outlet in Reichenbach or browse through our online shop. You won’t just find porcelain there, but genuine manufactory work – made with experience, care and a large portion of heart and soul.
We look forward to seeing you – online or in person on site.
My tip & a matter close to my heart: Subscribe to our new WhatsApp channel! With many videos & background knowledge about our manufactory ♥
