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Porzellanikon Selb

Porzellanikon Selb in a Former Rosenthal Factory
Porzellanikon Selb in a Former Rosenthal Factory

The Porzellanikon Selb is located in a former Rosenthal factory which closed down in 1969. With its imposing chimneys and its ensemble of buildings huddled together like a castle complex, the site very much has the feel of a well-fortified labyrinth. One particularly interesting architectural feature at the Porzellanikon is the fact that six of the ten former giant circular kilns remained intact and visitors can actually walk around inside them.

Visitors can see for themselves how “White Gold” is made. The museum covers everything from the inconspicuous “body” (porcelain mass) and the fired shards which are still white all the way to the finished decorated product. Visitors get to see all this and much more in the museum’s 8,000 sqm of exhibition space. History comes to life in the original manufacturing areas and an exciting story is told, using authentic machines, presentations and videos that provide insight into 300 years of production history. Former porcelain makers are happy to answer any questions and show visitors how things were done. This also includes learning about the Social Conditions that prevailed in the porcelain producing towns and cities across Europe. Interactive stations subtly provide details, while videos let the people speak for themselves in their own words.

Ceramics in Top Form
Technical Ceramics impressively demonstrate that ceramics can be used to make a lot more than chinaware. Whether man-sized mixing vessels for the chemical industry, dipping formers for the well-known latex gloves, electric insulators and capacitors or the latest products in the field of biomedicine, computing and automotive engineering – all these products were and still are made by German manufacturers and are on display here.

Today, the History of Rosenthal and the company’s products is told today in an old kiln house that was once part of a former Rosenthal factory.