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Used between 1842 and 1860.
In 1748, the esteemed iron founder François Boch began producing ceramic tableware in the village of Audun-le-Tiche in the Duchy of Lorraine. His plates, cups, pots, and tureens were simple in design yet excellent in quality, and his goods became well known in a relatively short period of time as a result. Building on this success, he founded the company Jean-François Boch et Frères with his brothers in 1767. This second factory was located in Septfontaines ("Seven Springs"), not far from the Luxembourg fortress, and began producing goods on a large scale.
As early as 1770, the Septfontaines factory began producing goods featuring the renowned "Brindille" pattern, which was later renamed and continued as "Alt-Luxemburg" in the Villeroy & Boch product range. Other businessmen, of course, tried to emulate François Boch's success, one of them being Nicolas Villeroy, who established an earthenware factory in Vaudrevange (now known as Wallerfangen) on the River Saar in 1789. He successfully applied decorations to tableware using the advanced copper plate printing technique, which was a decisive precondition for cost-effective mass production.
In 1809, Boch bought the former Benedictine abbey in Mettlach on the River Saar, where he established a highly modern, extensively mechanised system for producing tableware. Many of the machines were actually designed by Boch himself, and his inventions ushered in a new era, replacing manual ceramic manufacturing with industrial production. Today, the Baroque building still serves as the corporate headquarters of VVilleroy & Boch. However, technical advances were not the family's only speciality. Pierre Joseph Boch, who had been introduced to the trade by his brother, greatly improved the social security system for their workers by founding the Antonius Guild in Septfontaines in 1812.
That system even surpassed the benefits introduced seventy years later by the German leader Bismarck in his often-praised social security system. As can be seen, the Boch family was always interested in new ideas. In 1829, a new type of earthenware was developed at the Boch factory in Mettlach. This new material was bright white and extremely stable, closely resembling porcelain, hence the name "porcelain stoneware". The secret of its manufacture was kept strictly inside the company so that no competitor could produce anything like it.
To survive on the European market, former rivals Jean-François Boch and Nicolas Villeroy decided to merge their three factories to form a single business. The Villeroy & Boch company was founded in 1836 and soon began to advance towards European market leadership, especially after the marriage of the Villeroy and Boch children in 1842, which further strengthened the bond between the two families. In 1843, the company began to expand its product range, and one of its first major investments was the establishment of the Cristallerie glassworks in Wadgassen. This factory continues to produce items that complement the tableware range to this day.
From 1846 onwards, Villeroy & Boch supplied tableware and decorative objects to all parts of Germany, and this success was soon followed by a revolutionary new process in tile manufacturing. The invention of dry compression moulding in Septfontaines was a milestone not only in the company's history, but also in the history of the entire industry. In principle, tiles all over the world are still made in the same way today. By 1850, the company had established full-range production of high-quality bone china and marble-like Parian earthenware, followed by multicolour pattern printing for decorative purposes. It now supplied all European markets and had also found its place in the North and South American markets.
Another important step in the company's history was the introduction of newly developed floor tiles in 1852. These were particularly attractive and hard-wearing, and the so-called "Mettlacher Platten" became incredibly successful worldwide. Demand was so high that the Mettlach factory became the first in Europe to specialise solely in tile production. However, the factory also experienced personal setbacks: Franz Boch-Buschmann, the beloved founder of the faiencerie in Mettlach, died in 1858.
Still needing to expand, the company took over a factory in Merzig on the River Saar in 1879. As well as normal tiles, the factory produced terracotta items for the new area of business: architecturally applied ceramics. Both production lines were an immense success, and the Merzig factory soon became the world's largest manufacturer of floor tiles and terracotta.
Specialised factories proved extremely promising, and by around 1882, the Mettlach factory's main focus was producing washing vessels for people from all walks of life. The production of standard earthenware and majolica items was outsourced to other factories, such as Villeroy & Boch, Niederlassung Schramberg, which operated from 1883 to 1912. However, over time, all basins and jugs were gradually phased out to make way for the ceramic sanitary ware we recognise today.
Eugen Boch (*1809), the founder of the Mettlach mosaic factory, was decorated in 1892 for his work in the ceramics industry as a whole, and for his efforts in providing welfare institutions for workers and their families. He was awarded the title of Kommerzienrat and raised to the peerage, allowing him to adopt the name Eugen von Boch. He died in 1898.
In 1899, large-scale production of ceramic sanitary ware, such as bathtubs, sinks and toilets, began at the Merzig works using a new type of material similar to pipe clay. Shortly afterwards, the revolutionary slip-casting process was introduced, drastically reducing production costs and making bathroom equipment affordable for everyone.
Following the separation of the Saar region from the German Reich in 1920 as a result of the First World War, the factories located there were no longer available. Villeroy & Boch compensated for this by acquiring factories such as the Steingutfabrik und Kunsttöpferei Franz Anton Mehlem in Bonn-Poppelsdorf, as well as the Mosaikfabrik Deutsch-Lissa near Breslau (1920-1945), followed later by the Steingutfabrik Torgau (1926-1945). Between 1923 and 1935, it should be noted that the German factories were grouped as a limited corporation, with its main office in Dresden.
As always, Villeroy & Boch showed perfect timing, achieving impressive success even by today's standards. Always on the lookout for new inspiration, Villeroy & Boch took up revolutionary new ideas like those of the Bauhaus movement during the 1930s, reflecting them in the entire product range. At that time, Villeroy & Boch employed around 10,000 people, but the recession took its toll, and by 1931, the factory in Bonn-Poppelsdorf as well as the Steingutfabrik Wallerfangen (1790-1931) had to close. Following this, the limited corporation was dissolved and all factories were treated as individual firms, with a central office in Mettlach.
During the Second World War, factories across Germany were severely damaged. After the war, the Deutsch-Lissa works near Breslau, as well as the factories in Dresden and Torgau, were expropriated, and the Saar Basin works were integrated into the French economic area. Once again, the company had lost a large part of its production capacity, but this dark period in its history did not last long. By focusing on basic designs and supplying the market with sanitary items and tiles during the post-war years, Villeroy & Boch was on its way to becoming a global enterprise. Production of the new, particularly hard vitreous porcelain slowly picked up speed at the Septfontaines factory in 1959. After many hard years, the company finally advanced into new areas after selling its first large-scale shipment of tableware to Japan in 1971.
However, Villeroy & Boch also continued to gain popularity in other overseas markets, particularly in the USA. By 1975, it was clear that the importance of talented designers creating everyday items would grow, so the company focused on producing exceptional designs. One of the boldest steps was enlisting the famous designer Luigi Colani to design a complete set of bathroom equipment. This marked a new way of thinking for Villeroy & Boch: instead of selling individual products, they now produced entire living areas based on designers' ideas. However, the company did not forget customers who preferred more traditional designs, and in 1976, Villeroy & Boch purchased the traditional Heinrich porcelain factory in Selb for this purpose.
In response to gradual changes in the global market, the entire enterprise underwent restructuring in 1982. The factories, which had previously operated on a decentralised basis, were reorganised into three main divisions: tiles, sanitary ware, and tableware/crystal. In 1986, this process of specialisation was followed by the acquisition of the Gallo Design dealer brand, which expanded the range of well-laid tables to appeal to younger customers. Also, Paloma Picasso commenced her collaboration with Villeroy & Boch by developing tile, tableware, cutlery and crystal collections.
In 1987, Villeroy & Boch was converted into a public limited company. It later extended its product range to include plastic bathtubs and shower trays by acquiring a 50 per cent stake in the DutchUcosan company in 1989. In 1992, it acquired a majority interest in Alfðldi Porcelàngyàr, the largest Hungarian manufacturer of ceramic sanitary ware and the second largest manufacturer of tiles in the region. In 1996, Villeroy & Boch acquired a majority share in Mondial SA, a leading Romanian manufacturer of ceramic sanitary ware and tiles. Over time, some product ranges were dropped. For example, in October 2004, Villeroy & Boch sold the Boch Frères segment (by then a tile wholesaler) to Point P., a member of the French Saint-Gobain-Group.
What started as a small venture has become one of the world's largest and most advanced multi-layer manufacturers, producing many different items right up to the literal kitchen sink.
While the "Old Waller" shape was produced by the Wallerfangen subsidiary, the "Old Abbey Ware" shape was produced by the Mettlach factory and commonly issued with the "Alpina", "Fleurs de Montclair" and "Fleurs des Champs" decorations. Some marks include the addition "Made in France-Saar Economic Union", an economic (and political) union which existed from 1947 to 1956 before the Saar region voted to rejoin Germany in 1957.
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Used between 1842 and 1860.
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Used between 1852 and 1873.
(Picture by eBay user choral25)
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Used between 1873 and 1883.
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Used around 1888.
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No dates known, appears to be an early mark.
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No dates known, appears to be an early mark (here on "Rouen" series).
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Used roughly between 1890 and 1920, series "Old Abbey Sprays", example with "V&B M" above the shield.
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Used roughly between 1890 and 1920, series "Old Abbey Sprays", example with "V&B M" belov the shield.
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No date known, also an early mark.
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No date known, another example.
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Used until around 1900, impressed version on a dark colored item.
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Used until around 1900, impressed version on a lighter colored item.
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Used until around 1900, impressed version with "gegen Nachbildung geschützt" (design registered by an early form of copyright).
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Used until around 1900, interesting version with "Mettlach" set alone.
(Picture by Dave O'Callaghan)
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No date known, rare version without the abbey part, just ges. gesch. over the interlocking "VB".
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Used until around 1900, printed ink version with "ges. gesch." and "Reg. U.S. Pat.Off." indicating registration in Germany and the US.
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Used between 1874 and 1909, basic version.
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Used between 1874 and 1909, same as before but with offset "Made in Germany" addition.
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Used between 1874 and 1909, same as before plus "Reg. U.S. Pat.Off." addition.
(Picture by Eugene Huntjens)
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Used between 1874 and 1909, with "geschützt" (registered). "Rena" was the series.
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Normally only used between 1874 and 1909 but here with "geschützt", "Made in Germany" and "Patended June 3rd 1913".
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Used between 1874 and 1909, with gesetzlich geschützt and "Made in Germany" addition.
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Used between 1874 and 1909, with "Made in Germany" but offset "geschützt".
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Used between 1918 and 1935, with "Made in Saar-Basin".
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Used between 1918 and 1935, with "Made in Saar-Basin".
(Picture by Monika Birkl)
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No date known, "Old Abbey Ware" (here a green version) is a V&B export trademark found on cheaper series.
(Picture by Susan Baldwin)
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No date known, another "Old Abbey Ware" mark in black. In both cases "Alpina" is the decoration name.
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A mark combo: older green mark (used between 1874 and 1909) in addition with newer black one (used between 1893 and 1914).
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Used between 1893 and 1914, usually as standalone marking.
(Picture by John Shaddock)
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Used from 1913 until 1947, encircled "V&B" above "M" above "Made in Germany".
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Used from 1913 until 1947, encircled "V&B" above "M" above "Made in Germany" and "Saar", here on a "Rusticana" item.
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Same basic mark as before, but now above "Made In France-Saar Economic Union" and thus used between 1947 and 1956.
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No date known, basic mark with "Made in Germany" and "Saar" additions.
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No date known, basic mark with "Made in Germany" and "Saar" additions as well as the design name "Karin".
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No date known, design "Alt StraßBurg" with "Mettlacher Steindruck Unterglasur" addition.
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No date known, design "Rusticana" with "Mettlacher Kupferdruck Unterglasur" addition.
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No date known, design "Saphir" with "Mettlacher Kupferdruck Unterglasur" addition.
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Used between 1947 and 1956, with addition "Made In France-Saar Economic Union".
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Used between 1874 and 1909, with "Made in Germany".
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No date known, newer version in blue, here on a "Burgenland" item.
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No date known, newer version in green, here on a "Fasan" (vitro-porcelain) item.
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No date known, newer version in red, here on a "Valeria" (vitro-porcelain) item.
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Used in the 1970's, here a version used on the "Paon" series (note the 'W.-Germany' used until 1990).
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Here another a version used on the "Paon" series. Note the "Made in Germany" addition used after 1990.
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Since V&B acquired "Gallo Design" in 1986 *all* Gallo marks are incorrectly claimed to be V&B.
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Since V&B acquired "Gallo Design" in 1986 *all* Gallo marks are incorrectly claimed to be V&B.
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Since V&B acquired "Gallo Design" in 1986 *all* Gallo marks are incorrectly claimed to be V&B.
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This mark is actually dated from 1980.
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Recent mark on "Switch 3 / Costa".
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Recent mark with label showing "Made in China".
