Collection of three porcelain figurines depicting kingfishers

 ROSENTHAL The factory was founded in 1879. Now the Rosenthal porcelain factory is one of the largest and most famous in Europe, despite the fact that, unlike many other factories founded in the XVIII century, it has less than a hundred years of its existence. The very first factory was built in 1879 by Philip Rosenthal in the small village of Selb in Bavaria. Selb is an old center of porcelain production - since 1763 there was a branch of the Berlin Manufactory there, and in the XX century several more enterprises appeared. The Rosenthal factory appeared during the heyday of imperial Germany, and with the talented entrepreneurship of its founder, this allowed for a rapid expansion of wide activities. The Rosenthal factory became a joint-stock company and, having incorporated several other factories into its firm, became in the twenties of this century a powerful concern dominating the world market. The following factories belong to this colossus: "Selb-Plesberg" (formerly "Selb-Bahnhof"), founded in 1867; "Kronach" (Bavaria), founded in 1897.; "Munich-hand-painted porcelain factory" "Thomas & Co." in Marktredwitz (Bavaria), founded in 1903 and incorporated in 1908; "Thomas & Co." in Sophienthal (near Bayreuth), founded in 1907, transferred to the concern in 1936; Christer porcelain manufactory, founded in 1831 (until 1945 - in Walbrzych, since 1952 the company resumed work in Lanushtul in the Palatinate). The concern, headed by Philip Rosenthal Jr., now employs five thousand five hundred people, and in addition to manufacturing enterprises, there is its own network of retail stores and many foreign representative offices. The quality of porcelain is extremely high: the whiteness and transparency index is the highest in the world. The range of products of the Rosenthal factory is very wide - from chic table china and coffee and tea sets to technical products. Of the numerous models of sets , the most famous are: "Maria" and "Sans Souci". One of Rosenthal's novelties was porcelain covered with a thin layer of metal: copper, nickel or silver. But this type of porcelain, despite its greater strength and longer heat retention, was not accepted on the market. Coffee sets richly decorated with enamel and with cups gilded inside have gained great popularity. But they rather serve to decorate sideboards than for everyday use. Of other products, we should mention large decorative plates, vases for flowers of different shapes and sizes, candlesticks, bonbonniers and figurines with different themes (female figurines, cupids, birds, dogs, bunnies, etc.). In addition to porcelain, Rosenthal produces ceramic clay products, among which refractory cookware is the most successful. The technical and artistic level of Rosenthal porcelain was and remains extremely high. The design departments of the concern are constantly improving the shape and decoration. If old traditional samples are used, then their layout is modernized. Porcelain figurines made by famous sculptors are close to the Copenhagen ones. Hand-painted products have the inscription "hand-painted" (handgemalt) next to the factory stamp, and sometimes the artist's last name.         Since 1879.      Since 1879, printed markings in green have been used.     1891 - 1907, blue underglaze marking.