1794: first porcelain produced in Klášterec nad Ohří
The manufactory was the second porcelain factory established in the Czech lands. By the late 19th century, Thun porcelain had achieved international success. Unfortunately, this year, operations in Klášterec nad Ohří have come to an end.
The factory in Klášterec nad Ohří was founded in 1794 by J. M. Weber, a Thun family forester and estate manager. He sought to capitalize on the kaolin deposits found directly on the Klášterec estate. However, his early attempts to produce porcelain were not very successful. A turning point came in 1797 when an accomplished businessman, Christian Nonne, leased the factory. Under Nonne's professional management, both the quality of the products and sales improved significantly. He also began sourcing higher-quality kaolin from the Kadaň area.
After Nonne’s lease ended, Count Jan Josef Thun himself acquired the factory. Under his ownership, the brand mark changed from "K" to "TK". In 1822, Thun was finally granted official production rights. At that time, Czech porcelain factories within the Austro-Hungarian Empire typically had to wait around thirty years before receiving official certification recognizing the quality of their porcelain.
The Golden Era of Thun Porcelain
In the first half of the 19th century, Klášterec continued to produce collectible tableware, especially cups and saucers adorned with high-quality paintings by foreign artists. Popular designs included floral motifs, depictions of ancient mythological figures, historical personalities, and cityscapes (particularly of Karlovy Vary). Gilding was also frequently used.
In 1843, the Klášterec porcelain factory was granted permission to establish a printing workshop. This allowed printed decorations to be introduced alongside traditional hand-painted designs.
By the mid-19th century, the factory expanded into figurative work, with sculptor Arnošt Popp leading the effort. Another innovation was lithophane lampshades. The factory gained recognition at international exhibitions, and around 1870, Klášterec was the first porcelain factory in Bohemia to introduce the onion pattern, known as the "onion pot."
The Thun family retained ownership of the company through the difficult war and interwar periods until it was nationalized in 1945. In 1958, the factory became part of the Karlovy Vary Porcelain national company. In 2009, it was purchased by Thun 1794. Unfortunately, in recent years, the company struggled with rising energy costs and declining sales. This spring, the company closed all its operations in Klášterec nad Ohří, marking the end of the town’s historic connection to the renowned brand it had been proud of for centuries.
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