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Collection 2 > Germany
Germany has a rich history in earthenware, porcelain and piggy banks. The lucky pig “Glücksschweinchen” is a typical German heritage. Germany produced for the inner market as well for export. In such quantities that the UK (and USA) decided, for protection of their own goods, that from 1887 on an inscription “Made in Germany” had to be stamped on all imported German goods.
Ritzenhoff
RITZENHOFF (heute Ritzenhoff & Breker) produces glass and ceramic and, for my collection important, nice piggy banks with decors from well-known artists. Regrettably nowadays only with plastic stoppers.
Waechtersbach
The type showed here is rather common. However there is quite a difference between genuine Waechtersbach and imitation. Waechtersbach is an old German company (1832) but produces also in the USA.
More brands
Well known German Porcelain brands are Villeroy & Boch, Meissen and Goebel. From these 3 brands only Goebel made piggy banks and is well known by the famous Hummel figures. Most of the Goebel piggy banks regrettably do have a lock (with supplied key) in the belly bottom and very few original without holes! Those are in my collection.
“Porzellanfabrik Goebel” was founded on 30 January 1871 in Oeslau (municipality Rödental) by Franz Detleff and his son William Goebel. There were 5 generations Goebel after 1871 in de Goebel company until filing for bankruptcy in 2006. Rödental is a town in the Upper Franconian district of Coburg (Bavaria) 6 miles northeast of the city centre of Coburg on the Bavarian Porcelain Route.
Scheurich model 791
The shown piggy banks I bought in different stores in the Netherlands, they were made in Germany by Scheurich Keramik. All of them have a four leaf clover right above the tail. Length 13.5 cm. Period 1950 to 1965, or possible even before 1945. In addition to model 791 of 14 cm, there is a smaller (12.5 cm) and several larger ones: 792 and 793. All with cap or lock in the belly.
Miscellaneous
Germany is the cradle of the Glücksschweinchen. Nice examples are shown here and more miscellaneous. The original centre of the German earthenware industry was in Sachsen and Thüringen. And the borders of Poland and the Czech Republic (both former German Empire).
