Amphora Ceramic Factory

Bohemian, 1892–1945

LocationTurnov, Czech Republic

LocationTurn-Teplitz, Austria

BiographyPottery factory

1892 - 1905, the mark reflected the three owners with the initials "RStK."
1905 - 1910, the mark reflected the two owners after Eduard Stellmacher left to form his own company, "RK," and was named Amphora Factory Riessner & Kessel.
1910 - 1945 the factory name was Amphora Works Riessner, after Kessel left.
1945 the company was nationalized

Schiffer Books:
Generally recognized as the first and arguably the best of the Amphora manufacturers, Reissner, Stellmacher & Kessel was established in the Turn-Teplitz region of Bohemia in 1892. Partners Hans and Carl Reissner, Edward Stellmacher, and Rudolf Kessel after Kessel took over the remaining factories of Alfred Stellmacher. This area of central Europe was close to Dresden, Germany and benefited from the long tradition of ceramics manufacturing among the peoples of eastern Germany. The ceramics Reissner and his 2 partners produced was known for its unique styles and the interesting glazes they used to create what became known as "Amphora" pottery or simply "Teplitz." Reissner, Stellmacher & Kessel (R. St. K.) displayed their work in America for the first time at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair where they were awarded a best in show prize and first attracted the attention of the American buying public. In 1897, R. St. K. produced began art pottery vases in the style of Grueby and Rookwood, but with more elaborate and Art Nouveau and Jugensdtil influenced designs. The partners Reissner, Stellmacher, and Kessel enjoyed business and artistic success and again took top honors at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, but in 1905 at which time Stellmacher left the firm to establish his own company under his own name. The original firm continued to operate as the Reissner & Kessel Amphora Works and operated as such until Kessel also left in 1910. Subsequently, the original firm operated under the business name Amphora Werke Reissner while Stellmacher continued in operation only until 1912. Amphora Werke Reissner continued to produce fine Amphora art pottery through the Art Deco period and the years of World War II, at which time it was nationalized by the Czechoslovakian government in 1945. There were many other Amphora manufacturers who established operations in the Turn-Teplitz region, while imitators emerged elsewhere such as the Zsolnay factory in Pecs, Hungary which went on to create some innovative designs of their own.

Person TypeCorporate Body