Andreas Heege, Andreas Kistler 2022
Pottery made by the Aegerter pottery in CERAMICA CH
Ulrich Aegerter (1839–1925) from Langnau (BRL 16, 7) and his wife, Elisabeth Dolder (1839–1910) had seven children, of whom two sons, Albrecht (1872–1943; BRL 22, 16) and Alfred (1876–1940; BRL 22, 524), became potters. From 1904 to 1940, Alfred Aegerter had a workshop at 1 Sonnweg in Langnau (see Heege/Kistler 2017b, Chap. 3.8). In November 1903, Albrecht bought a property in the “Goldengrund” area (now 12 Bäraustrasse) in Bärau and in 1904 he built a house and potter’s workshop for himself and his family there (see Heege/Kistler 2017b, Chap.3.20). At the time of the purchase, he was recorded as a “master potter in Bärau”. Prior to that he had rented a workshop at 6 Styggässli in Bärau (see Heege/Kistler 2017b, Chap. 3.14). The only journeymen that are listed in the records as having worked for Albrecht Aegerter were one German and four Swiss men (from Langnau and Lauperswil, among other places). They were employed at the workshop between 1905 and 1909 (StAB Bez Signau Regstamt B 59. GAL 675). No products are known to have survived from that period.
We have only been able to find one newspaper mention of the Aegerter workshop. According to the report, Albrecht Aegerter took part in a pottery fair organised by Bern’s Museum of Applied Arts in 1935.
In February 1943, Albrecht’s son Friedrich (1906–1969; BRL 39, 420) took over the workshop (GB Sumiswald Bel. II, 5340). A small number of pieces signed by him have survived. They appear to have been strongly influenced by the then leading Gerber/Stucki workshop in Langnau.
Dish in the style of Jakob Stucki, Langnau, dated 1956 (private ownership, Langnau).
After Friedrich’s death, his son Martin Aegerter (1947–) took over the workshop (GB Sumiswald Bel. III, 866). Unfortunately, Martin, who suffered from Rheumatism, was forced to close the business in 1970, as he was no longer able to make ceramics (information courtesy of Martin Aegerter, Bärau, 6th June 2016).
Translation: Sandy Haemmerle
References:
Heege/Kistler 2017b
Andreas Heege/Andreas Kistler, Keramik aus Langnau. Zur Geschichte der bedeutendsten Landhafnerei im Kanton Bern (Schriften des Bernischen Historischen Museums 13), Bern 2017.
