Arzberg Germany Porcelain Tea Set 15 Pieces - Hand Painted - Signed - 1956 RARE!

Description

View Arzberg Germany Porcelain Tea Set 15 Pieces - Hand Painted - Signed - 1956 RARE! with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. The pieces are my wife's and here is the story: they were commissioned by her parents when her dad was stationed in Ulm. My wife was born there in 1956. My wife's parents, "Mr. and Mrs. Kowalowitch" (sic), paid for the artwork in liquor, so the story goes. Vintage Arzberg Baden-Württemberg/Bavaria Ulm, Germany Tea Set 15 Pieces - Hand Painted - Signed - 1956 RARE! This is what has survived the decades. The real deal is the 7 desert plates; they are beautifully hand-painted depicting 4 women and 3 men in Victorian dress.  They are beautiful one-of-a-kind items with historical value. These will be a coup for the collector of fine mid-century West German porcelain...or for a museum. All the pieces are in very good condition without chips, cracks or crazing.  They show very little signs of use, wear or age (stored for decades).  Almost all are signed by the artist or bear her initials.  Plates are 6 1/2" in diameter. Provenance: The pieces are my wife's and here is the story: they were commissioned by her parents when her dad was stationed in Ulm.  My wife was born there in 1956.  The artist, Baroness Sybille von Rothkirch, was a down-on-her-luck baroness, like much of the German nobility in post-WWII Germany.  My wife's parents, "Mr. and Mrs. Kowalowitch" (sic), paid for the artwork in liquor, so the story goes.  So, I could find no other art pieces by this artist on eBay nor the web, but searches did provide that such a person was painting in that period. The term Freifrau translates to baroness, so, the story holds up. Here is all I could find on the baroness: AI Overview Based on the available information, Sybille von Rothkirch is associated with designs for Ulmer Keramik (Ulm Ceramics) in the 1950s.      Artist/Designer Role: Designs by Sybille von Rothkirch were identified in specialized trade magazines from 1954, specifically "Die Schaulade, Ausgabe B" (April 1954) and "Die Porzellan- und Glashandlung" (July 1954).     Work Context: Her designs were part of the "Ulmer Keramik" production in West Germany during that period.     Associations: She is linked to the Ulm area, where her ceramic designs (including vases) were produced or showcased during this period.      Other Potential Connections: While there are other members of the von Rothkirch family historically documented in art (such as artist Ellen von Rothkirch or lithographer Karl von Rothkirch), the specific reference to Ulm, Germany, is connected to the ceramics designs noted above. There is limited public information regarding an artist named Baroness Sybille von Rothkirch (often appearing as Sybille Freifrau von Rothkirch und Panthen) specifically in the context of a professional art career in Ulm, Germany. However, she is noted in regional and charitable records:     Philanthropy and Community: She is documented as a donor to the Hatzfeld-Banat community, contributing to cultural and heritage preservation projects.     Family Connection: The name "von Rothkirch und Panthen" is a prominent noble family in Germany. A Sybille von Rothkirch is also mentioned in historical contexts related to the Stauffenberg family, a family with deep roots in Southern Germany (including the Ulm area).     Artist Context: While some search results mention a "Sybille von Sachsen" as a historical poetess, there is no widely archived portfolio or gallery presence for a Sybille von Rothkirch as a contemporary professional artist in Ulm. It is possible she is a local private artist or known within specific aristocratic social circles in the Ulm/Danube region.  Sybille von Rothkirch was a designer associated with Ulmer Keramik in Ulm, Germany, during the mid-20th century.  Artistic Background and Contributions     Ceramics Design: She is primarily recognized for her work with the Ulmer Keramik pottery studio. Her designs were featured in prominent trade publications, such as the magazine Die Schaulade (issue B, April 1954) and Die Porzellan- und Glashandlung (July 1954).     Notable Works: Collectors of West German Pottery (WGP) have identified specific series based on her sketches, including decorative items like Vase No. 839.     Legacy in Ulm: Her contributions are part of the local history of Ulm's ceramic industry, which gained significant recognition for its modernist and artistic output in the 1950s. Freifrau is a German noble title meaning "baroness," specifically referring to the wife of a Freiherr (baron) or a woman holding the title in her own right. Literally translating to "free lady," it is equivalent to the English title Baroness. It is used to denote nobility and is also the name of a high-end furniture brand.  "Und Panthen" (often spelled und Panthen, und Panten, or und Panthen) at the end of a German name, particularly in the structure "von [Name] und Panthen," indicates landed nobility and represents a specific, historically merged noble house.  Here is the breakdown of the meaning:     Von (Of/From): Indicates noble lineage.     Und (And): Connects two distinct families or estates.     Panthen (also Panten): Refers to a specific noble family name and their ancestral land in the German-speaking regions (historically often associated with Lower Silesia).  Key Contextual Points:     Family Merger: In many cases, it signifies the merging of two families, such as the Von Rothkirch family marrying into or acquiring the estate of the Panthen family, resulting in the combined name "von Rothkirch und Panthen".     Historical Usage: This type of compound name was common in German nobility, particularly in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries to represent ownership of multiple estates or to maintain the legacy of two noble lines.     Not a Generic Term: This is not a common German word, but rather a specific hereditary title Condition: Used. Category: Pottery & Glass › Decorative Cookware, Dinnerware & Serveware › Cup & Saucers. Brand: Arzberg.

Origin

Arzberg

Number of Items in Set

15

Signed By

Sybille von Rothkirch

Year Manufactured

1956

Hand Painted

Yes

Vintage

Yes

Care Instructions

Hand Wash Only

Original/Licensed Reproduction

Original

Item Height

5.5 in teapot

Production Style

Art Pottery

Finish

Glossy

Handmade

Yes

Pattern

Floral

Signed

Yes

Color

Multicolor

Material

Porcelain, Bone China

Set Includes

Tea Cup & Saucer Set, Teapot, Sugar Bowl, 7 Dessert Plates, Custom Dedicated Tray

Brand

Arzberg

Type

Tea Set

Theme

Floral

Time Period Manufactured

1950-1959

Backstamp

Printed

Production Technique

Ceramics

Country of Origin

Germany

Product Line

Arzberg Ulm