Hochst pottery and porcelain, 18th century onwards

The Hochst pottery and porcelain factory was founded in 1720 in Hochst, a town near Frankfurt in Germany. The factory was established by Johann Friedrich Bottger, a renowned alchemist and ceramicist who is credited with discovering the formula for making hard-paste porcelain in Europe.

Initially, the Hochst factory produced both pottery and porcelain, with the pottery being used to provide the necessary funds for the more expensive porcelain production. The porcelain produced by the factory was known for intricate decoration, which was often inspired by the Chinese and Japanese porcelain that was being imported into Europe at the time.

One of the most famous designs produced by the Hochst factory was the "Blue Onion" pattern, which was introduced in the 18th century. The pattern features a blue floral design on a white background, and it quickly became one of the most popular porcelain designs in Europe.

Throughout the 18th more... and 19th centuries, the Hochst factory continued to produce high-quality porcelain, which was highly prized by collectors and aristocrats throughout Europe. The factory's output included a wide range of objects, including vases, figurines, and dinnerware.

In the 20th century, the Hochst factory struggled to compete with cheaper, mass-produced porcelain from Asia, and production declined significantly. However, the factory continued to produce porcelain on a smaller scale, and today, the factory is still in operation, producing high-quality porcelain for collectors and enthusiasts around the world. less...