Description
Bohne Söhne Rudolstadt Porcelain Mice Chess Set.
Offered here is the adorable, Bohne Söhne Rudolstadt Porcelain Mice Chess Set, 20th century. These quaint gray a and white glazed porcelain chess pieces display naturalistic modeling with underglaze painting, as well as gold gilding. Each piece wears the blue factory hallmark with gold leaf highlights throughout. The thirty-two figures are in the form of adorable white and gray mice in different poses sitting on pedestals. The chess pieces are housed in their original compartmented and silk lined display case. The king stands 2 7/8in. (7.3cm) tall. No chessboard is included, but a suitable board can be found here. This is a rare and unique mouse chess set. This heirloom quality chess set has a real charm to it, with naturalistic modeling of the mice in different poses. The chess pieces and storage case are in excellent condition.
A Short History of Bohne Söhne Rudolstadt Porcelain
The Volkstedt Porcelain Factory was established in 1760 in the town of Rudolstadt, Thuringia, Germany. The term Volkstedt Porcelain is nowadays applied as a generic term for items produced at one of the many porcelain factories & studios in the area or that are in the same style. Historically, the original Volkstedt facilities were used by several companies or owners, either in succession or concurrently, and they are still in operation today under the Tettau company banner. The Rudolstadt brand, also a generic term, is practically synonymous to Volkstedt. As old as Meissen, they have been one of their fiercest competitors, but perhaps not as prolific, and produced decorative porcelain in essentially the same style.
Ferdinand Beyer and Theodor Bock were running in Volkstedt a paint shop since 1853. Their initially small business was expanding. In 1869 Ferdinand Beyer was able to take his son Alfred into the business. In 1869, Lazarus Straus organized Lazarus Strass & Sons, an American firm specializing in the import and wholesale of ceramics and glass. Nathan Straus, Lazarus’ son, convinced R. H. Macy to establish a small chinaware and glass shop in its stores. In 1882, the United States-based New York and Rudolstadt Pottery Company was organized.
Volkstedt-Rudolstadt porcelain factory was started in 1890. By 1903 the factory employed 230 workers. In 1908 the company was joined by Alfred’s son, Max Beyer. By 1913, the Rudolstadt plant employed over 300 workers, a third of which were involved with export packaging and other related activities. The glass export business was centered in London. Alfred Beyer died in 1926. The factory produced high quality porcelain items till 1960 when the operation was nationalized.
