History of the Waldenburg ceramics workshop and international encounters

From the 14th century onwards, potteries were established in Waldenburg in Saxony. Nearby Frohnsdorf in present-day Thuringia was home to a large deposit of white clay. This promoted the continuous development of the craft in the town and its reputation throughout Europe. Over time and with the establishment of new branches of industry, however, the number of businesses has decreased.

Founded in 1972 under the supervision of Peter Tauscher, the Waldenburg ceramics workshop still exists today and is part of the town's long history of craftsmanship. Self-built coal furnaces based on old models have preserved the craft tradition of firing with coal and wood, making the workshop a popular training- and travel destination.

International exchange and trade were also facilitated by the State Art Trade of the GDR, in whose foundation Peter Tauscher was involved. The workshop was transferred to the state art trade in 1976, after it had been state-owned four years earlier, like all private businesses in the GDR, and declared public property (VEB Keramik Waldenburg). After the so-called Wende, it ended up in private ownership.

In his interview with Art in Networks, Peter Tauscher talks about the history of the place and the many encounters he had during the GDR era, for example during his own trips for the pottery or when interns stayed with him in Waldenburg.