“Albligen pottery” in CERAMICA CH

Andreas Heege, Andreas Kistler 2022

The western part of the Canton of Bern had very few potteries. One of these was the Schläfli Pottery in Albligen in the Schwarzenburg district just on the border between the Cantons of Bern and Freiburg. From around 1700, five generations of potters (seven at the most) made tiled stoves and utility ware in the town of Albligen (family tree). “Albligen pottery” was first mentioned in the literature in 1926 and, according to statements made by traders, was associated with the Schläfli Pottery (Aegler 1926; Wegeli 1927; Wyss 1966, 42-44). However, no comprehensive survey has yet been carried out or clear definition proposed, nor has the connection between the Schläfli Pottery and the so-called “Albligen pottery” been established beyond doubt. Most recently, Adriano Boschetti has dealt with “Albligen pottery” (Boschetti-Maradi 2006 and 2007).

According to the literature and based on the small number of pieces known to be held in museums, “Albligen pottery” is coated in white slip and bears a specific type of incised decoration that is sometimes combined with chattering. Its deep yellow glaze is covered by dark-brown, very runny splashed decoration.

Some of the objects bear dates ranging from 1760 (RML A130) to 1789 (BHM 7220). This means that they probably came from the workshops of the second or third generation of Schläfli potters, while the later production, which is believed to have continued until the 1830s, is unknown.

Pottery from Albligen? Archaeological finds from Bern, Waisenhausplatz (c. 1700-1740). Photo by Badri Redha, Archäologischer Dienst des Kantons Bern.

In principle, we can state that, apart from Albligen, ceramics with similar types of decoration were probably also produced in various other pottery-producing communities throughout the Cantons of Bern and Freiburg (cf. Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Figs. 317; 319; 323,3).

In some exceptional cases, all dating from 1754, objects have been found to exhibit blue and green splashed decoration (Fitzwilliam-Museum-Cambridge, FWMC C.1899-1928).

The Schläfli potters’ building is still in existence today, but none of the equipment or internal structural components have survived. Ceramic sherds recovered from the vicinity mainly bear dark-brown splashed decoration.

Family tree of the Schläfli potters

Translation Sandy Haemmerle

 References

Aegler 1926
J. Aegler, Albliger Geschirr. Eine neue Gruppe Bauerngeschirr aus dem 18. Jahrhundert, in: Jahrbuch des Bernischen Historischen Museums, 6. Jahrgang, 1926, 84-87.

Boschetti-Maradi 2006
Adriano Boschetti-Maradi, Gefässkeramik und Hafnerei in der Frühen Neuzeit im Kanton Bern (Schriften des Bernischen Historischen Museums 8), Bern 2006.

Boschetti-Maradi 2007
Adriano Boschetti-Maradi, Geschirr für Stadt und Land. Berner Töpferei seit dem 16. Jahrhundert (Glanzlichter aus dem Bernischen Historischen Museum 19), Bern 2007.

Wegeli 1927
Rudolf Wegeli, Albliger Geschirr, in: Jahrbuch des Bernischen Historischen Museums, 7. Jahrgang, 1927, 82.

Wyss 1966
Robert L. Wyss, Berner Bauernkeramik (Berner Heimatbücher 100-103), Bern 1966.