Imperial Amphora
In 1892, after leading the ceramics industry for 17 years, Alfred Stellmacher encouraged his son and sons-in-law to start a new porcelain manufacturing business. This company, initially named after its founders Riessner, Stellmacher, and Kessel (RSt&K), employed Stellmacher’s son-in-law, Paul Dachsel. Over time, the firm became known simply as Amphora, a name that was consistently marked on their pieces by the late 1890s.
The Amphora factory was located in Turn-Teplitz, Austria (now part of the Czech Republic). Teplitz, once a renowned spa town frequented by cultural icons such as Goethe and Beethoven, was gradually overshadowed by growing industrial activity. Turn, a neighbouring area known for its lush gardens and villas also became affected by industrialization. By the mid-19th century, the region had evolved into a major ceramics production centre, home to several manufacturers, including Kunstkeramik Paul Dachsel, Eduard Stellmacher, and Ernst Wahliss. The area’s natural resources, such as the kaolin-rich riverbeds essential for porcelain production, made it an ideal location for ceramic manufactories. Additionally, the rivers provided power, and the nearby railroads facilitated the rapid distribution and export of ceramics across Europe.
At its inception, Amphora followed the Orientalist and Neo-Baroque styles favoured by Alfred Stellmacher. However, the combined talents of Eduard Stellmacher, Paul Dachsel, and skilled decorators from the Special Ceramics School of Teplitz allowed the firm to quickly develop a distinctive genre of Art Nouveau ceramics. A key feature of Amphora’s success was its dedication to high-quality design and innovation, particularly with Alfred Stellmacher’s “ivory porcelain”—a malleable, heat-resistant material with a matte yellowish finish. Amphora’s stylistic diversity, combined with its commitment to excellence, soon established the company as a world leader in art pottery during the Art Nouveau period.
Example of the Amphora printed manufactures mark on a porcelain figure available at Jacksons Antique
