Crailsheim Faience Tankard ca. 1750
Toasting to Chivalry
Romantic Pursuits on a Crailsheim Faience Masterpiece
Dating approximately 1750, this elegant faience tankard from the Crailsheim manufactory represents a superb example of mid-18th century German decorative arts. The piece showcases the refined craftsmanship and artistic design with narrative pictorial elements that provide insight into the social customs and aesthetic preferences of the time.
The Crailsheim manufactory was particularly noted for its distinctive decorative style, characterized by a vibrant polychrome colour palette that in this particular object features cobalt blue, yellow, manganese, and green depicting the figures in period attire.
The scene depicts refined social interaction between the lady and two gentlemen. A courtship scene of contemporary romantic ideals reflecting an allegorical representation of virtues such as courtesy, refinement, and proper social conduct.
Craftsmanship and Production in the Crailsheim Manufactory
The production of such a piece involved multiple specialized craftsmen:
- Potter: Who formed the basic vessel on a wheel
- Glazer: Who applied the white tin glaze that served as the ground for decoration
- Painter: Who hand-painted the figural scene
- Kiln master: Who oversaw the firing process
- Metalworker: Who created and attached the pewter lid and mounts
Each step required considerable skill, with the painting being particularly valued. The delicate brushwork and confident execution of the figures speak to the high level of artistic training in the Crailsheim workshop.
Dinkelsbuehl Pewter
Dinkelsbuehl pewter mounts hallmark
of Johann Heinrich Scholl
(Hintze V 666)
Hintze, Erwin [Hrsg.] Band V
Die deutschen Zinngießer und ihre Marken
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41533
digital access to all volumes
Crailsheim Municipal Museum
In 18th century the faience manufactory in Crailsheim (1720 – 1827) produced high-quality objects, that are on display in important museums and are sought after by collectors.
The Crailsheim Municipal Museum holds a collection of ca. 300 faiences that includes examples of almost the entire spectrum of Crailsheim production eras. The faiences are presented in the artistic, cultural and economic context of their time of origin.
Literature – Museum Reference
Meisterwerke mittel-und süddeutscher Fayencekunst aus deutschem Privatbesitz:
Sonderausstellung Frankfurt am Main Kunstgewerbemuseum Mai bis Juli 1925.
Masterpieces of central and southern German faience art from private German collections:
Special exhibition Frankfurt am Main Kunstgewerbemuseum May to July 1925.
Sonderausstellung Frankfurt am Main Kunstgewerbemuseum Mai bis Juli 1925
Schmidt, Robert, and Vita von Lieres. Meisterwerke mittel-und süddeutscher Fayencekunst aus deutschem Privatbesitz: Sonderausstellung Mai bis Juli 1925. Frankfurt a. M. 1925.
Gretsch, Hermann. Die Fayencefabrik in Crailsheim.
Hugo Matthaes, Stuttgart 1928.
Bosch, Helmut: Deutsche Fayencekrüge des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts. Sammlungen Hans Cohn, Los Angeles. Siegfried Kramarsky, New York.
Mainz: Von Zabern 1983.
