“Langnau type 1” pottery, Canton of Bern

Andreas Heege, 2019

This group of ceramics were taken out of the overall study of Langnau pottery (Heege/Kistler 2017) and dealt with separately. It includes earthenware with a coat of white slip and incised or slip-trailed decoration in red, green and dark brown. The group comprises 17 vessels of various types (a water dispenser, a small bowl with inverted rim, large bowls, tureens with external lid seating and cover, a shaving basin and broad-rimmed plates). Six objects bear dates between 1739 and 1742, which means that the entire group can probably be dated to the period around 1740.

Researchers studying Bernese earthenware and Langnau pottery including Emil Aeschlimann and Robert L. Wyss had no doubt that this group of vessels belonged to the category of Langnau ware (Aeschlimann 1928, 27; Wyss 1966, Pl. VII. Cf. also Boschetti-Maradi 2006, 132 Fig. 174). However, now that we are aware of almost 2000 objects which we have good reason to attribute to various potters called Herrmann from Langnau, the situation looks somewhat different (Heege/Kistler 2017/2). Various attempts at classifying Langnau pottery repeatedly failed to fit this particular group of vessels into any of the predefined categories, mainly due to their decorative motifs. The multicoloured designs and the fact that dividers were used to create them, however, correspond to what is known from some of the Langnau products from the same period. The vessel shapes are closely related to the range of types that are usually found in the Canton of Bern and specifically in Langnau, so that we can assume that this group of vessels were also made somewhere within the canton.

The oldest of the 17 pieces can be found in the collection of the Museum of Cultures in Basel (MKB HM-1901-175). It is a typical, small tureen with external seating and cover and horizontal lug handles decorated with slip trailing. The date of 1739 is added on both the inside and the outside of the vessel. The inside of the lid is decorated with arched patterns similar to those found on Langnau ware. The outside rim of the lid is notched but not in the same way that we are used to seeing on Langnau type TE 1 (Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Chap. 10, TE 1). The design of the floral motifs clearly differs from the rest of the Langnau products from the same period. Two other tureens with external seating and cover from the Langnau Regional Museum can be included (RML A165, RML A166). The way the horizontal lug handles are attached to the first vessel is unusual for Langnau products and it has a coat of red slip on the inside. The second vessel with its chattered decoration and a rather curious floral pattern on its lid could almost be mistaken for a contemporaneous “Langnau copy”.

Two plates with broad rims are dated to 1740. The first and more impressive one is in the collection of the Historical Museum in Bern (BHM 4972). The way its front design is laid out was most likely inspired by Chinese porcelain models or by Dutch or German faience vessels with Chinoiseries (Piereth/Ulrichs 2010, CD page 106, Ansbach around 1730; see also Blaettler/Ducret/Schnyder 2013, Pl. 151,8, Delft 1750-1785). The circles and arched lines were incised using a pair of dividers and are reminiscent of the contemporaneous compass-defined decorations on Langnau pottery (cf. Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Chap. 4). The well is adorned with a small vase with a large bouquet and the date 1740. The reverse bears the name of its owner, “Jost Bracher”. In the Canton of Bern around 1800, families with the surname Bracher were registered citizens of Affoltern in the Emmental valley, Bannwil, Hasle near Burgdorf, Heimiswil, Langenthal, Lyssach, Lützelflüh, Madiswil, Rüegsau and Wynigen. The underside of the plate is decorated with a unique motif: two bears with long tongues have propped themselves up against a large tree (two monsters chewing on the roots of Yggdrasil, the Norse tree of life?). Dogs or foxes are approaching them from both sides. The top edge of the lip has two perforations by which the plate could obviously be hung on a wall for decorative purposes.

Three other, undated broad-rimmed plates are closely related based on the decoration on the front but bear simpler floral patterns on the underside of the lip (RSB IV-0212, ZHdK-KGS-01098, private collection). Tulip-like blossoms arranged in a star-shape or in groups of three or four on the well are reminiscent of contemporaneous highly stylised Langnau floral motifs. The motifs on the lips are similar to the pomegranate decorations found on Künersberg or Schrezheim faience vessels (Fröschner 1992, Cat. 194, 195, 197; Bayer 1995, Cat. 48-51; Erdner/Nagel 1972, Cat. 292).

Another, rather unusual plate is adorned with a jumping horse, possibly with a saddle (RML A005) which is completely different in style from the usual Langnau horse depictions (cf. Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Chap. 6). The date 1740 can be seen below the horse. The flowers on the lip closely correspond to those found on the other plates in this group, none of which have any suspension attachments.

Semicircles incised on the lip using dividers and the typical flowers with rosette petals link two further plates with the pieces described above (RML A001, BHM 8020). Contrary to what we are used to seeing on Langnau pottery, the flowers on the well are laid out in a spiral shape.

Another elaborately decorated plate with a frilled rim and two turned, flat footrings but without a suspension attachment dates from 1741. It is decorated all over the front and the back (MKB HM-1881-0028). The well is adorned with a castle-like architectural motif with towers, ridge turrets, gardens and a flagpole above a jumping stag and the date 1741. The wall is decorated with a row of comma-leaf motifs as found occasionally on other ceramic objects. The decoration on the back is similar to that on the front and includes a small bird sitting on a flower branch in the centre accompanied by the name “Verena Kneübüler”. While the name Kneubühler existed in Affoltern in the Emmental valley, Bleienbach and Frauenkappelen prior to 1800, it was found a lot more frequently in the Canton of Lucerne (Altishofen, Buttisholz, Egolzwil, Gettnau, Grossdietwil, Hergiswil near Willisau, Menznau, Reiden, Ufhusen, Willisau town and district, Zell).

The most recent broad-rimmed plate bears the date 1742, but the way the numbers were written is very similar to those on the last piece mentioned. The whereabouts of the plate are unknown (Aeschlimann 1928, 27).

In autumn 2018 a hitherto unknown shallow plate from this group was put up for auction by the Bern antiques dealer Elsa Bloch-Diener (Stuker Auction House, Bloch-Diener collection, autumn 2018, lot 259, now GBC 12121). The well is decorated with a row of two-storey houses with large arched passageways and pointed roofs with crosses on top. The lip is decorated with birds alternating with floral branches and groups of egg-and-dart-like patterns alternating with scrolls arranged at right angles to the edge. The well also includes a motto which is very difficult to understand: “Ein ÿeder der mich aufricht der gedänck sin nicht, denn Gedänck er sin so vergäβ ehr min” (“Those who lift my spirit do not think of themselves, because if they did, they would forget about me”). On the reverse there is a ceramic suspension lug of the type seen on Langnau ware from the first third of the 18^th century onwards.

The group also includes a water dispenser (cistern). Shaped like a house, the rather tall dispenser has bevelled corners and bears the date 1742 in the same writing style on both narrow sides (BHM 6796). The corners are decorated with the same chinoiserie patterns that were already seen on the plates. Other elements that link these pieces are onion-shaped flowers with diagonal stripes. The applied moulding with scalloped edges is reminiscent of Langnau water dispensers from the same period (cf. Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Chap. 10, GF 1, BHM 7234a), but this particular piece is clearly unique.

Three bowls, two large and one small (RSB IV-0227, RSB IV-0072, MKB HM-1911-0065), belong to this group by virtue of their simple decoration consisting of floral patterns and stripes. Simple inverted or collared rims and smooth horizontal lug handles with painted decorations were also typical of Langnau ware from the first half of the 18^th century (cf. Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Chap. 10, SCH 1 and SCH 2)

The only shaving basin (private collection) in the group stands out somewhat due to its green-glazed front. The comma-leaf motifs on the underside rim as well as the shapes of the cross-hatched areas and the incised flowers on the front leave us in no doubt, however, that this piece also belongs to this group. The green glaze over dark slip-trailed motifs on the front also links the piece with the green-glazed ceramics from Langnau Workshop 1, Hand 1, which used the same colour during the same period (Heege/Kistler 2017/2, 262–263). The overall shape and the suspension attachment also correspond to the shaving basins of type RB 1 typical of Langnau pottery (Heege/Kistler 2017/2, 653–654).

Summary

Given the dates found on the pieces in this group (1739–1742) and the typological similarities with the objects produced by the Herrmann potters (Langnau, Workshop 1, 15 Sonnweg), it seems that only a member of the Jost potting family in Langnau (workshop at 1 Bärenplatz) could possibly have made them (cf. Heege/Kistler 2017/2, Chap. 2.2.1 and 3.4). However, we cannot exclude the possibility that the workshop that produced them was actually located elsewhere, for instance in Huttwil, Langenthal or Burgdorf. So far, no archaeological finds have come to light which could provide any evidence as to their place of origin. The family names that are mentioned on two of the pieces point to the Emmental valley, the peripheral areas of the Bernese Upper Aargau and the western region of the Canton of Lucerne. Until we find definitive proof of its place of production, the name “Langnau type 1” pottery, which we have chosen for this group remains a “working or auxiliary term”.

Pieces assigned to this group:

BHM 04972, BHM 06796, BHM 08020, MKB HM-1881-0028, MKB HM-1901-0175, MKB HM-1911-0065, RML A001, RML A005, RML A165, RML A166, RSB IV-0072, RSB IV-0212, RSB IV-0227, Aeschlimann 1928, 27, ZHdK KGS-01098, GBC 12121, private collections (2 objects)

Translation Sandy Haemmerle

References:

Aeschlimann 1928
Emil Aeschlimann, Alt-Langnau-Töpferei. Ein Beitrag zur Volkskunde. Bern 1928.

Bayer 1995
Hans-Wolfgang Bayer, “Muffelbrand und Scharfes Feuer”. 250 Jahre Künersberger Fayencen, Weissenhorn 1995.

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

Erdner/Nagel 1972
Hans Erdner/Gert K. Nagel, Die Fayencefabrik zu Schretzheim 1752-1865. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Deutschen Keramik, völlig neu bearbeitete und erweiterte Ausgabe, Ellwangen 1972.

Fröschner 1992
Stephanie Fröschner, Künersberger Fayencen. Die Geschichte der Manufaktur. Untersuchung der Schaffeuerdekore und der Muffeldekore, Bonn 1992.

Heege/Kistler 2017
Andreas Heege/Andreas Kistler, Keramik aus Langnau. Zur Geschichte der bedeutendsten Landhafnerei im Kanton Bern (Schriften des Bernischen Historischen Museums 13). Bern 2017, Beilagen DVD, Ordner ergänzende Texte.

Piereth/Ulrichs 2010
Uta Piereth/Friederike Ulrichs, Museum Deutscher Fayencen in Schloss Höchstädt, München 2010.

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