We are very pleased to present this gorgeous large 14 x 6 x 1" early 1950's West German pink & gilt banded, hand painted Roses, Daisies & Violets floral celery dish from the skilled artisans of Kunst Alboth & Kaiser. Located in Staffelstein, their fantastic tray carries the crown AK under glaze mark used through 1953 (see Rontgen & http://www.porcelainmarksandmore.com). Our special celery server weighs in at a substantial 1 pd 11 oz.and is in excellent condition. Research consulted: Marks on German, Bohemian and Austrian Porcelain 1710 to the Present / by Robert Rontgen; Directory of European Porcelain / by Ludwig Danckert; Bohemian Decorated Porcelain / by Dr. James D Henderson........................ In 1872 August Alboth established a small china-refining and decorating business in the town of Coburg. His son Ernst later joined the business (ca. 1875), and the firm was known as Porzellanveredelung August Alboth from 1872 until 1928. After his father retired in 1899, Ernst decided to move the company from Coburg to a newly built factory in Kronach, and the first few years of the new factory were enjoyed by August, who regulary visited until his passing in 1908. Ernst Alboth himself had two children: son Willy (who later joined his father in the company management in 1925) and daughter Erna. She married the Munich banker Georg Kaiser (born 1895) in 1922 and he joined Ernst Alboth as manager. In 1923 Erna then gave birth to their son, Hubertus Kaiser. After the death of Ernst Alboth in 1927, Willy Alboth (who had no children of his own) and Georg Kaiser decided to change the company name to 'AL-KA', a combination of the first two letters of each family name. The Porzellanfabrik AL-KA Kunst Alboth & Kaiser survived from 1928 until 1951, and in the first few years the factory successfully established its name in the market by not only producing an extensive series of gift ware, but also manufacturing a high-quality series of Rococo style lace figurines which was usually a domain of the Thuringian companies. Slowly expanding the company acquired the former 'Gebrüder Silbermann' porcelain factory located in the town of Hausen in 1938, serving as the main supplier for unmarked blanks used by the refining company in Kronach. In 1945 Hubertus Kaiser became partner of the company and in order to cope with new requirements after the war and the increased demand, first plans were made to build a new factory which combined the production and decoration sections. The Porzellanfabrik AL-KA Kunst Alboth & Kaiser K.G. was formed in 1951 and until 1956, the new integrated model was lead by a board of the three managers Georg Kaiser, Willy Alboth and Hubertus Kaiser. Further investors were quickly found and in 1953, new premises in the nearby town of Staffelstein were acquired in order to build the new factory there. Staffelstein was the perfect location as it was very close to the Hausen factory which would continue production until the new factory was completely finished and on the other hand it was close enough to the town of Kronach and its skilled workers. Three years later, the company was able to completely move to Staffelstein. The Alka Porzellanfabriken Alboth & Kaiser K.G., Staffelstein was viable from 1956 until 1970, which afforded the company the opportunity to abandon the factory in Hausen. After making sure that the company made a good start at the new location Georg Kaiser decided to slowly retire, so in 1961 the company was run by Willy Alboth and Hubertus Kaiser alone. By the time Georg Kaiser passed in 1964, Willy Alboth's son Ernst had joined the company. The crown + AK mark below was use from 1926 to 1953.

Excellent condition, minor wear to gilt