Handmade since 1492

In 1968, Johannes Fürst Hohenberg, a direct descendant of the Austrian imperial family, acquired the Gmundner Keramik manufactory and made it the number 1 tableware manufacturer in Austria. The new-found success was partly due to the growing popularity of the Green Flamed pattern. Fürst Hohenberg subsequently teamed up with Professor Gudrun Wittke-Baudisch to establish Gruppe H (Group H), a local ceramic art association - the H stand for Hallstatt (residence of Mrs Wittke-Baudisch) and Hohenberg.

The traditional Upper Austrian company Gmundner Keramik is changing ownership. The factory, which has been privately owned by the von Moy family since 1997, is transferred to the Salzburg entrepreneur Markus Friesacher in August 2018. He took over the manufactory, which has been in existence for over 500 years, with its 130 employees, the associated world of experience and the brand stores. The company therefore remains firmly in Austrian hands. 

In May 2021, the "flaming of pottery" was designated as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. The flaming of pottery denotes the application of a recognisable pattern on ceramic parts. First finds of white-blue coloured pottery in the area around Gmunden date back to the year 1600, from which the typical decoration technique, the “flamed” or “Gmundner crockery” developed. The craftsmanship of flaming takes about two years to learn, focusing on sustainable and local production. Typical patterns include ribbons or loops, in stripes, waves or arches. The green banding combined with the white blazing foundation forms the typical “green-flamed”, which is applied onto the crockery and decorative items.

Due to the inclusion of the traditional handcraft of "flaming of pottery" in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, Gmundner Keramik has decided to adapt the company logo. The flower blossom in the logo was renewed with a "flamed" look. The logo was presented in the course of the Summer Festival 2021.

For the 10th anniversary of the Austrian Music Theatre Award, we were allowed to reinterpret the "Schikaneder" statuette. In the process, high culture meets the highest craftsmanship. Reduced to a feather in combination with a pan flute with seven pipes, the symbolism of "Schikaneder" is unmistakable. The uniqueness of the statuette is guaranteed by the flaming of the feather. The distinctive technique, which is more than 300 years old, is both an intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO and a unique piece from Austria. On 13th September, in the Wolkenturm in Grafenegg, the unique pieces in 13 categories, as well as four special categories, will be awarded by a top-class jury of journalists and the Board of Directors. It is an honour for us to provide this special event with a unique award.

In the centre of the 8th district, in the historic vaults of the Beethovenhaus, the Gmundner Keramik Welt was officially opened. These venerable premises serve as a stage to present the many facets of the company. In addition to the shop, where the complete range of unique handmade items from Gmunden are on display for purchase, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating craftsmanship behind the ceramic works. In addition, the lounge at the Gmunden Lodge in Namibia invites visitors to embark on a spiritual journey to faraway Africa.