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German Mess Hall Porcelain
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SS Mess Hall Porcelain (Four-Piece Group) (0) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-0; SS 38-11; WAF 14-10) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is an absolutely incredible find! We purchased recently a very large grouping of mess hall china to include pieces from the services of the Luftwaffe, Army, Navy, and Deutsches Work Front. Among them are four incredible pieces from the Waffen-SS. They are all marked on their bottoms “ -Reich.” The porcelain pieces for the SS dining halls were always marked this way regardless of what particular SS unit they were issued to. The Leibstandarte, the Totenkopf Div., Deutschland, Germania, das Reich all had the same markings rather than individually named units being separately issued. The famed porcelain firm of Bauscher Weiden in Weiden, Bavaria, manufactured almost all of these beautiful mess hall pieces. This has been a major porcelain-producing firm since 1881. Besides making heavy industrial dinner pieces for many years they provided wares for the German military through WWI and WWII. Its chinaware is known for its durability. The pieces could be dropped from a dinner table and survive; the construction is that heavy. We offer a grouping in which all the pieces have the “-Reich” marking under the glaze, plus the Bauscher Weiden logo.The group consists of: 1. A large meat platter 16 x 10½ inches 2. A small dessert or vegetable dish 6½ inches in diameter 3. A deep-dish soup bowl 9 inches in diameter 4. A magnificent gravy boat. The serving-unit bowl is permanently attached to the platter. The platter measures 9½ x 6 inches and the gravy bowl is about 9 inches long and 4½ inches across. All the pieces are in fine, unchipped condition. There are a few really tiny spots that all porcelain gets after 75-80 years. After all, German mess hall china is pretty, but is not made for the Imperial Palace dinner in Berlin. We are selling this group as a set only—we will not break it up. Buying it this way will save you many dollars because individually they would be much more expensive. For example, true individual values: Gravy boat $450 Large meat platter $450 Small dessert plate $200 Soup bowl $250 Total: $1,350.00 PRICE: SOLD |
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Navy (Kriegsmarine) Mess Deck Porcelain (1) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-1; KRIEG 10-25a) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a coffee or tea set of mess-deck china; a cup and a saucer. These were on every ship of the line to include U-boats. Several companies in Germany manufactured these porcelains and seldom do you ever see a set where both were from the same manufacturer; this set appears to be so. The saucer is well marked with the eagle and swastika, the “M” for Marine (navy), “1939,” and the logo of the Jäger Company. In a search on the Internet we see that the tableware made by this company was almost exclusively for the German Navy (“M”). The cup is marked only with the eagle and “M.” The saucer is marked with the date “1939” (the beginning of WWII). Both items are in perfect condition. The saucer measures 5½ inches in diameter and the cup is 2¼ inches high. They’re of heavy construction with a beautiful, white sheen to these great, original pieces.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Coffeepot from German Army Mess Hall (2) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-2; WEHR 34-16) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a great mess hall coffee server as used by German troops in 1941. The piece is by the firm of Bauscher in the city of Weiden, Bavaria. This firm was the leading one making this glowing, white porcelain for various services of the Wehrmacht, especially the Deutsche Heer (Army). This porcelain was the toughest chinaware ever developed for military use. A soldier could drop this service piece from the dining table and the chances are good that it would not even break. The most sought-after items of this nature were the large pieces such as this coffeepot. The plates and dishes are far-more common, but it’s all getting scarce today. This one in absolute perfect condition is marked on the bottom with the Bauscher Weiden mark and the N.S. eagle and the date “1941.” The pot measures about 10 inches high with its serving lip and handle in perfect shape after all these years (remarkable!). I would have to consider them truly rare. The only places that anything like this ever seems to show up is at German flea markets if one is lucky enough to find one. This is an exceptional relic of the Second World War. There are no chips; absolutely perfect!
PRICE: SOLD |
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Soup Bowl for the DAF (3) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-3; RAD 6-20) |
| DESCRIPTION: This is a soup bowl as used in the factory mess halls of the DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront). What was the greatest of all the porcelain dinnerware makers in Germany? Answer: KPM (Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur; Royal Porcelain Factory) in Meissen. This company goes back to 1763. Porcelain made for various German services in the WWII era were made by all the German porcelain manufacturers and the ones that stand out are the KPM pieces, in particular. The firm made many dinner pieces for the German Work Front and here we present a perfect soup bowl by KPM. It has the cogged-wheel swastika on the bottom with the motto of that corps under the familiar logo of the company. This one also has the seal of the particular factory group on the top edge of the bowl. Its design has a logo with two hunting horns and the initials “DPO.” This manufacturer was in Lublin, which was in the occupied general-government area of Poland after the liberation of the German minority. A shop was set up there to augment the Bavarian makers. The edges of the piece are trimmed in a Bavarian blue. The opening of the bowl measures about 9 inches. It is in perfect shape with no nicks or scratches. That marvelous, tough, bright-white porcelain was made to take a beating and often did; this one survived some 78 years. WOW!
PRICE: SOLD |
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Original DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront) Porcelain Mess Hall Grouping (4) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-4; RAD 6-23) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a spectacular grouping of original mess hall chinaware that was used in factories and other facilities used by the German Labor Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront). The chinaware was also used by crewmembers aboard ships of the Strength through Joy (Kraft durch Freude) organization such as Wilhelm Gustloff and Robert Ley. The china was manufactured by several of the porcelain firms in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s for service pieces used by the army, navy, air force, Waffen-SS, and the labor corps companies like KPM, Meisen, Nymphenburg, Hutschenreuther, Bauscher Weiden, and others produced this beautiful, glowing white dishware for the military and Nazi Party. In general, the pieces we offer here in a group are as follows: 1. A huge meat platter that measures 15½ x 10 inches and is in great shape with no nicks. This one has a red boarder and the center is recessed as to allow no gravy spillover. There is some tiny color loss in the red enameling because of heavy usage. On the back is the Hutschenreuther logo that has the traditional Bavarian Lion, the city “Selb,” and the cogged wheel swastika of the DAF and its wording. 2. Two dinner plates that measure 9 inches in diameter with the markings as in #1 above. 3. A deep soup or mashed-potato bowl that has diameter opening of 8½ inches. This one has the imprint of the factory in the inside bottom of the bowl. The marking on the outside-bottom are the same as the ones shown above. This bowl has a decorative black line around the lid of the bowl. Price is for all, and we will not break them up. $285.00; No other site is able to match this. SOLD |
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Very Nice Group of DAF Porcelain (5) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-5; RAD 6-24) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a rare grouping of mess hall porcelain that we bought along with the groups above. This is the tableware used in German service groups Wehrmacht, and NSDAP-sponsored organizations such as the RAD and DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront). We have explained some of this in the articles above. The DAF was the National Worker’s Association that replaced the unions. Why? Because these unions worldwide were to say the very least nefarious. The DAF was an effective organization and the people of the German working public adored it. The social welfare and industrial betterment programs were the essence of true socialism on the right. The communists and democrats were given the boot! This organization sponsored paid vacations on “Kraft durch Freude” luxury liners such as Robert Ley and Wilhelm Gustloff. They would take workers on fabulous vacations to such places as the Norwegian and Swedish wonder sites that hitherto they would have never dreamed of visiting. They effectively improved conditions in factories throughout the Reich to a really great extent. The lives of the workers were made much happier. The grouping here is comprised of a beautiful creamer and two dessert plates. The creamer is by the firm of Hutschenreuter. It bears their lion logo and, of course, the DAF symbol of a swastika within a cogged wheel. The beautiful creamer stands 6 inches high and from the handle to the pouring lip is about 6½ inches in girth. It is in beautiful, mint condition. The dessert plates also have the DAF logo. The maker is also Hutschenreuter; the other is exactly the same but by KPM, the absolute finest name in regal porcelain in all of Germany. The group is offered at the most reasonable price.
$450.00 |
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Mess Hall Porcelain Sugar Bowl from the DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront) (6) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-6; RAD 6-21) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a sugar bowl from the German Labor Front, which was commanded by Dr. Robert Ley. This is part of the large collection we purchased recently. This is probably the largest collection of mess hall china ever assembled in postwar years. Above the text about this item offered here are other pieces shown. Please do look at them concerning this great original tableware by other famous porcelain firms in the period of World War Two and the Third Reich. This classic sugar bowl is in mint condition and was produced for the German Labor Front by the firm of Bauscher Weiden, the company that made most of the tableware for the DAF. This china was the toughest ever made and is rather handsome in its own right with very classic lines. The bowl has the logo of the maker on the bottom, and the symbol of the DAF (cogged wheel with swastika). This particular piece is rather unusual in that it also has some personalization. It has the stylized letters “GHB” across the side of the bowl. The permanently attached platter is about 7 inches in diameter while the bowl is about 3 inches high and the measurement for the spout is about 6 inches across.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Large Mess Hall Porcelain Coffeepot for the German Work Front (DAF) (7) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-7; RAD 6-22) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the best pieces from the large collection of mess hall porcelain that we purchased. This without a doubt is the largest grouping of these fine original items ever accumulated altogether. Several porcelain companies during the Second World War turned out such pieces for the various military and N.S. political services. We explain more in the listings above about these wonderful china pieces. I have shown several companies’ logos, but the one that turned out this magnificent coffee server is one that is probably quite rare. The company is Tirschenreuth, a city in northeast Bavaria. Tirschenreuth was famous for fine quality porcelain, and vintage pieces are highly sought after by collectors. Its famous porcelain factory was shut down many years ago. Obviously, it, like other German porcelain makers, turned out mess hall china for the military. This coffeepot is in mint condition and has the Tirschenreuth logo and the DAF symbol of the cogged wheel with the swastika in the circle. It also says: “MODELL DES AMTES SCHÖNHEIT DER ARBEIT.” This roughly translate as: "Approved Model of the Office of Beauty of Work." "Schönheit der Arbeit" (“Office of Beauty of Work”) was an organization under the DAF concerned with improving conditions in the workplace and, according to one source, also gave the seal of approval to good designs. Much more about this great porcelain can be learned by reading about it in the preceding text about some of the other offerings regarding the DAF. The measurement of this coffeepot and its cover are about 10½ inches high and from the handle to the spout is about 10 inches. This without a doubt is the finest coffeepot of this type ever to surface that we know of.
PRICE: $350.00 and again, a bargain! |
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Cup and Saucer Set for the German Army(8) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-8; WEHR 34-17) |
| DESCRIPTION: This set is from the large collection of German WWII mess hall china that we recently bought. Famous porcelain houses such as Meissen, Rosenthal, KPM, Baucher Weiden, and others manufactured these items for the Wehrmacht, Labor Front, and especially for the Deutsches Heer (German Army). Seldom do you see matching sets with the company name the same, or the years matching and in this case the makers are different and the years of issue are different (the cup is dated 1937 and the saucer is 1941). They both bear a company logo and of course they both have the army eagle with swastika that appears a little bit different on each piece of china. Yes, different, but still a set as to usage. The best description of this china would be “iron stone.” The name is derived from its notable strength and durability; a soldier could drop this cup from the dining table and odds are that it would survive, it’s that tough! The saucer measures 6 inches in diameter. The cup is 4½ inches wide counting the handle and the opening of the cup is 3½ inches in diameter. The wonderful patina glows like the finest china.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Porcelain Group from a Luftwaffe Mess Hall(9) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-9; LUFT 22-20) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a magnificent coffeepot with two cups and two saucers. These pieces of porcelain tableware were made for mess halls of the Wehrmacht—army, navy, air force—by various porcelain manufacturers in the Third Reich. Some of the greatest old, established firms such as Rosenthal, Meissen, and KPM produced some of this exquisite china. Some smaller firms also produced these things because of the huge demand for them once the war began. We recently bought one of the greatest assemblages of this tableware probably ever seen in one collection. This group that we present here is nicely put together and consists of a great coffeepot with two cups and two saucers in very fine condition except for three or four very minor nicks (and I do emphasize “minor”). This mess hall stuff is tough; really tough. The makers of this group are all different as you can see in the pictures images. The large pieces like the coffeepot are extremely scarce. All the pieces are marked with the company names of manufacturers and each piece bears the Luftwaffe flying eagle and swastika with the letters “Fl.U.V.,” which stand for Flieger Unterkunfte Verwaltung ("Flight Barracks Administration" or Flying troops inventory management. This appears on all items of tableware, flatware, and dishes that were issued to Luftwaffe aircrew units for use in their dining facilities. This was the distributing command responsible for all procurement of materials used at Luftwaffe installations and included mess hall equipment, as well.) Note that the names of the manufacturers are all different as are the years on each piece. The coffeepot is from 1941 and the manufacturer was H&G in Selb, Bavaria. The two cups are by the same firm of Kolmar, but one is dated 1941 and the other 1942. The saucers are respectively by two different firms; one is Bohemia and the other is C.M.H. in Hohenberg, Germany. All such items were made in the 1940s under strict, exacting conditions. The big coffeepot measures about one foot high and from handle to spout it measures about 11 inches; at its widest point it’s about 9 inches. For sure it holds lots of hot “java.” This is an incredible grouping that’s completely 100-percent original and positively great looking!
PRICE: SOLD |
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Serving Tureen from the Deutsches Kriegsmarine (German Navy) Chow Hall(10) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-10; KRIEG 10-25) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is the rarest of the rare; a huge tureen of the typical “lion’s head” porcelain style. This type tureen was widely used by civilians in National Socialist Germany under the directive of the government’s Eintopf program. This was where the National Socialist party promoted the casserole meal called Eintopf and this translates to “one pot.” At least once a week citizens were encouraged to have a delicious meal of the Eintopf variety. We do not say that the military services were required to observe this, but aboard ship, casseroles were relished, especially when potatoes and various vegetable boiled in bouillon and thickened with flour were served; invariably the Eintopf vessels were used. First of all, the tureen featured here is in perfect condition throughout and has the traditional lion faces that enable the lifting of the vessel. The piece is quite handsome and even a bit dramatic looking especially in a table setting. This is typical Germanic mess hall china: tough as nails! This porcelain made for mess halls for the armed services saw great and famous porcelain firms as Meissen, KPM, Rosenthal, et al., produce special “Iron stone” pieces for distribution to the Luftwaffe, Heer, Kriegsmarine, and Waffen-SS. All of these pieces had the designation of the service; some with the logo of the particular firm and the year of issue and some like this one that has only the military identification of the branch of service the piece was issued to. In this case a WWII navy eagle-and-swastika logo is seen and it is probably by the firm Hutschenreuther, but I suppose the naval supply depot made a decision that Kriegsmarine china should not show a mfg. mark because every naval example we have ever seen is marked thusly with the eagle and swastika and “M” for Marine. This is a great example of the large serving pieces we rarely see, nowadays.
PRICE: $550.00 |
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Divided Mess Hall Dinner Plate for the N.S.D.A. Workers (Deutsche Arbeitsfront)(11) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-11; RAD 6-25) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is a beautiful mess hall utility dish that’s not only beautiful to look at, but I love the concept of compartmentalized serving that’s absolutely perfect for the chow line where several servers dish out meat, potatoes, and various vegetables a scoop at a time! I used one in my hitch in the U.S.Navy; I still use one, today. I think they are great! This is mess hall china for the tables of the DAF (German Work Front) and is marked on the bottom with the cogged-wheel swastika and the name of the firm that produced it; in this case Koenigszelt, one of the many well-known firms that produced this tough stoneware for the Work Front. In some of the preceding write-ups, I explained some more about that organization and the various porcelain makers that served the basic needs of workers’ food service. The size of this dish is 11 inches in diameter and the compartments are deep. There is a thin, red line around the edges that gives it better dimension. It is one handsome piece of N.S. china. Plate is in excellent condition. Remember, this is mess hall porcelain; not for the Reich’s chancellery! For the price of it, this is a bargain! Others listed in the past on other sites (without the separate compartments) have asked much more than our other perfect one that you can see below; sometimes as much as $300, or more than twice the price.
$135.00 plus shipping |
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Divided Mess Hall Dinner Plate for the N.S.D.A. Workers (Deutsche Arbeitsfront)(11a) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-11a; RAD 6-25a) |
| DESCRIPTION: This Reich’s Work Front divided dish is in mint condition, but the labor section that it was used in did not use the red decorative line around the rim of the dish. The description with the one above pretty much describes this one as well; however, this one is mess hall porcelain manufactured by Hutschenreuther. It has the manufacture’s mark along with the cogged-wheel swastika that is the symbol of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront underneath. Hutschenreuther made most of the mess hall items for the workers. This is one tough piece of porcelain as all the third Reich mess hall china was.
$250.00 |
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Assemblege of Mess Hall Porcelain for the Wehrmacht (Heer)(13) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-13; WEHR 34-19) |
| DESCRIPTION: This is a group of four pieces from the huge private collection we recently acquired. This is the typical German ironstone porcelain that was produced by many different porcelain companyies just before and during the Second World War. Here we present a huge deep-dish vegetable bowl and a potato bowl, plus two small dinner bowls. All are by different makers and all of them bear the typical German Army eagle and date issued plus the logo of the issuing company that manufactured the pieces. More about this mess hall china can be learned by reading some of the forgoing text seen in entries above. Suffice to say that in this instance the four pieces are all in pristine condition and with no nicks, chips, or abrasions—perfection indeed. The large square bowl measures 10 inches square across its top and it’s about 3½ inches tall and deep. It’s marked with the German Army (Heers) eagle and has the logo of the porcelain maker PMR in Bavaria. It has its company logo and is dated 1939. The potato bowl measured 4 inches high with a mouth opening across of 8½ inches in diameter. It also has a maker’s logo that shows a crown over a “W” and “Bavaria.” The two small dishes are of course showing the N.S. eagle and swastika plus the maker’s logos and dated 1939 and 1940. They measure 6½ inches in diameter. This is an incredible group and is 100 percent original. I have said and I now emphasize that this porcelain is the world’s toughest and a group like this is a collector’s treasure, indeed. No dealer site out there can compete with us in being able to offer pieces of this variety and amount plus quality! These will not last long at these very reasonable prices. We are proud to offer them. They are certainly an affordable, original WWII German relic.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Large German Army Mess Hall Platter(14) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-14; WEHR 34-18) |
| DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the larger mess hall pieces that we accumulated with the fantastic large assemblage that was gathered up by a dedicated collector over many years. This is stone-ware porcelain that was produced for the Wehrmacht (military services); this one in particular for the Deutsches Heer (Army).
Many of the major and minor porcelain firms in Germany made these before and during WWII. It is beautiful china in its own right and with its military markings, it is even more interesting. Up to now, pieces, especially large ones, were considered rare and almost unobtainable, but with the acquisition of all these great examples that we bought, we are proud to be offering some of the finest. Check with other pieces on these pages for more information about these great items. As I have said, several firms made these pieces from about 1937 to 1944. The major company that produced this particular one was by Hutschenreuther, which was certainly one of the most prestigious and famous makers in Selb, Bavaria. Nothing by Meissen, Rosenthal, or KPM could be superior to the porcelain pieces offered by this famed firm. The big platter measures 16 x 10½ inches. Many of the pieces we offer from this collection are in mint condition, but others like this one show slight evidence of usage. When you look at the bottom of the platter and view the edges of the platform you can see it sat on many a mess hall table ( nothing broken or chipped or nicked! Just good honest wear). The whole platter is sound and perfect. This is super-tough tableware. The year issued and shown is 1939, the first year of WWII, and the proud N.S. eagle and swastika are plainly evident as is the logo of the manufacturer.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Covered Tureen for the Luftwaffe Mess Hall(15) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-15; LUFT 22-21) |
| DESCRIPTION:Here is a large tureen in porcelain that was issued for the mess hall of the Deutsche Luftwaffe (German Air Force). This is a covered tureen unlike the one shown above on this page, which is coverless. The other never had a cover nor was it meant to. The covered ones are much more rare. I have said that many of the major porcelain companies in Germany produced such ironstone-type mess hall dinnerware for the military services. Meissen, KPM-Berlin, Rosenthal, Hutschenreuther, and many others almost entirely held back their normal activities in making special, elegant refined porcelain, and statuary pieces and put all their efforts into keeping Germany’s brave servicemen equipped with plates and vessels to hold life’s most necessary commodity, food! And that’s not that these mess hall pieces did not have a beauty of their own. They certainly did! This large tureen is to me a classical beauty in itself with its strong, defining lines. The Germanic look with the lion’s head for lifting handles are almost unique to Germanic (Teutonic) tureens. The company logo is seen on the bottom of the vessel along with the eagle that is in flight with the swastika in its claws. This is the symbol of the Luftwaffe. The company mark is “H&G” in Selb, Bavaria. The model is called “Heinrich,” and is dated “1941.” The piece is big 10½ inches high including the lid. The mouth opening is about 9 inches in diameter. The top on this one is a bit unusual in that the lifting knob is recessed into a cuplike dish (unusual). The tureen is in immaculate, fine, and practically mint condition and is a truly exceptional and historically important relic.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Army Large Meat Platter(16) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-16; WEHR 34-20) |
| DESCRIPTION: Measures 16 x 10 inches. This one is by K & A Krautheim in Selb, Bavaria, and is one of the many pieces we bought from one of the greatest collections of these precious pieces of china. Many companies made these in the period of the Second World War for the various military services. If you buy this one there will be a bonus of a free dessert plate by the firm of Puls made in 1939. The large platter is clearly marked with National Eagle and swastika as is the dessert plate. Both are in great condition and unchipped. The usual iridescent white coloration is beautiful for this relic of the Second World War. This is a very affordable authentic relic indeed.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Cup and Saucer(17) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-17; LUFT 22-22) |
| DESCRIPTION: This is a mixed lot as would often happen in distribution during the Second World War the saucer in this case by Bauscher Weiden produced in 1941. The cup is by Koenigszelt and dated 1939. Both have eagles and swastikas and show slight wear on their bottoms—definitely used in the mess hall. These are good representative original pieces from both military services from the Second World War.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Cup and Saucer(18) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-18; LUFT 22-23, WEHR 34-21) |
| DESCRIPTION:This is a cup and saucer that are mixed; the cup is from a Luftwaffe mess hall and the saucer from a Heer mess hall. This was often the case as the war progressed and is interesting to collectors wanting to have something from both services. The cup was produced by company Thun in 1940. It bears the flying Luftwaffe eagle and the company logo. The saucer is by Hutschenreuther in Selb. It bears the Wehrmacht eagle and swastika and the Bavarian lion as the company logo. Hutschenreuther was the company with the largest contract with the Wehrmacht. The pieces show some small wear on the bottom and were definitely used in a mess hall. This is very good original grouping from the Second World War. Great collectibles!
PRICE: SOLD |
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Coffee Cup and Saucer Set from Kraft durch Freude--KdF (Strength through Joy) section of the DAF(20) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-20; JOY 1-3) |
| DESCRIPTION: The German Labor Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront [DAF]) was the National Socialist labor organization which replaced the various independent trade unions in Germany after Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Its leader was Robert Ley, who stated that its aim was “to create a true social and productive community.” Theoretically, the DAF existed to act as a medium through which workers and owners could mutually represent their interests; wages were set by the 12 DAF trustees. The employees were given relatively high set wages and security of employment, and dismissal was increasingly made difficult. Social security and leisure programs were started, canteens, breaks, and regular working times were established, and German workers were generally satisfied by what the DAF gave them in repayment for their absolute loyalty. Following the National Socialist’s Volksgemeinschaft approach towards developing a greater "people's community,” the DAF expanded or established new social, educational, sports, health, and entertainment programs for German workers via the Strength through Joy program, which included factory libraries and gardens, swimming pools, low-priced hot meals, adult education programs, periodic work breaks, physical education, sports facilities, gymnastic training, orchestral music during lunch breaks, free tickets to concerts and opera, and subsidized vacations that saw over 10.3 million Germans signed up by 1938. The DAF financed the building of ocean-going vessels that permitted German workers to pay minimal prices to sail to many foreign destinations. Up to six ocean liners were operating just before the start of World War II. According to the chief of the Associated Press in Berlin, Louis P. Lochner, ticket prices for ocean-steamer vessels ranged from twelve to sixteen marks for "a full week on such a steamer.” For those who desired vacations closer to home, the DAF constructed spa and summer resort complexes. The most ambitious was the 4.5-km long Prora complex on Rugen island, which was to have 20,000 beds, and would have been the largest beach resort in the world. It was never completed and the massive complex largely remained an empty shell right through until the 21st century. The set of cup and saucer is complete with the pieces intact and in perfect condition; matching and they bear the company logos of the firm HUTSCHENREUTHER. This firm had its beginnings in1814 in Selb, Bavaria. Before and during WWII this company made most of the Wehrmacht mess hall porcelain tableware. The other mark on the piece seen under the glaze is the cogged wheel and swastika insignia of the DAF with the wording that translates to: “Insignia of the office of the beauty of work” (Schöenheit der Arbeit). The saucer measures 6 inches in diameter; the cup measures 2 1/2 inches high and about 4 1/2 inches wide to include the handle. To find an intact grouping of cup and saucer like this and so perfect is very rare and after all of 80 years is nothing short of incredible! As with all of the military mess hall porcelain the material used was called “ironstone” and is “iron tough.”
PRICE: SOLD |
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SS-LAH Formal Mess Hall Plate by Bauscher-Weiden(21) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-21; LEIBSS 2-11) |
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| DESCRIPTION: These are the official fine porcelain dishes used at ceremonial high dinners sponsored by the Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler for his elite guard division of the Allgemeine-SS. The porcelain firm of Bauscher-Weiden, a firm known for fine dinnerware, manufactured this particular dish. You will note that the golden symbol of the LAH appears under the glaze at the top of the plate. These are incredibly rare. You can find any amount of normal Wehrmacht mess-hall porcelain with various company logos and eagles and other symbols used in military mess halls, but to find these absolutely gorgeous and important SS versions is certainly difficult. We had the good fortune to find three of them marked by prestigious porcelain manufacturers. This Bauscher-Weiden dish is a particularly fine example of this rare dinnerware that was used at places like Bad-Töltz and Berlin Lichterfelde. The plate measures 9¼ inches in diameter and is in perfect condition with some wear on the bottom where it sat on a table. The edges are trimmed in navy blue sitting upon a gold ring. The LAH is in golden script. The maker’s logo is clearly seen on the bottom of the plate.
PRICE: SOLD |
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SS-LAH Formal Mess Hall Plate(22) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-22; LEIBSS 2-12) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is another formal mess hall plate as used for special occasions such as a grand ball sponsored by the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. The plate measures 9½ inches in diameter. This one is by the famed firm of “KPM” (Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin). This particular one shows some usage in the fact that the blue and gold edge rim is worn from continual usage. However, there are no chips, cracks, or abrasions. The script-style “LAH” at the top in gold leaf is perfect as is the KPM logo with crown. These pieces were often used at ceremonial dinners at Bad Tölz and Berlin Lichterfelde.
PRICE: $350.00 |
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SS-LAH Formal Mess Hall Dinner Plate by KPM(23) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-23; LEIBSS 2-13) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is a perfect dinner plate for the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler elite units. These plates were used in formal occasions such as state dinners sponsored by the offices of Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. As we have said in the two items above, these plates measure 9½ inches in diameter and bear the golden insignia of the elite corps. This particular plate is in mint condition and has the logo of the KPM company in Berlin. These fine porcelain pieces were made exclusively for the Allgemeine-SS LAH. Several German porcelain manufacturers made other porcelain pieces for the Wehrmacht soldiers, but only KPM and Bauscher-Weiden made mess hall porcelain for the SS. This plate is considered extremely rare and is a historically important relic of the SS.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Large Stoneware Porcelain Platter (Mess Hall Type) by Tillowitz of Prussia(24) (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-24; WEHR 35-13) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is a very nice original German Army, WWII mess hall platter used as the main serving dish at Wehrmacht dining facilities. This one is dated right at the time of Germany’s major military victories in 1940. It bears the Reichsadler-style eagle allotted to Das Heer (Army). The porcelain firm that produced these pieces was Tillowitz, a most significant porcelain firm in Silesia, and its normal line of fine porcelain is known as “R.S. Prussia.” The plate is very heavy in ironstone. They were practically unbreakable and could take a lot of rough usage from hungry soldiers and sailors at chow time. This is a large platter measuring 6 x 10 inches and is in great condition.
PRICE: $375.00 |
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Creamer used in the Mess Halls of the DAF (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-25: SPECIAL SALE) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Deutsche Arbeitsfront, the German workers’ association under the National Socialist system, was the only socialism that ever worked until it was destroyed under leftist socialists. The creamer is marked on the bottom with the cogged-wheel swastika—the symbol of the DAF. Also, there is the logo of the KPM company in Berlin (Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur). This porcelain manufacturer, founded in 1763, was the most famous and prestigious porcelain firm in all of Europe, and is still producing, today. In WWII, it was the supplier of many of the porcelain mess hall china such as this piece. The creamer is six inches high and is in almost perfect condition except for a tiny pinhead-sized chip or manufacturer blemish at the edge of the mouth opening. This does not at all detract from the overall great look of this original WWII relic.
PRICE: $250.00; SPECIAL SALE $175.00 (2-Z) |
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DAF Coffeepot with Lid (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-26: SPECIAL SALE) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is the type used in special events and group meetings of the various workers’ councils sponsored by the Strength through Joy movement within the German Labor Front (DAF). It’s marked on the bottom with the cogged-wheel symbol of that organization and it also has the logo of the famed porcelain company Hutschenreuther, in Selb Bavaria. The pot measures about 10 inches high with its lid attached. There’s a slight chip on the underside of the lid, but when it’s sitting on the coffeepot, it’s not visible nor does it interfere with the positioning of the lid with the pot portion. I would have to say it won’t bother you nor does it even slightly mar the overall beautify of this very exceptional piece of Third Reich mess hall porcelain.
PRICE: $350.00; SPECIAL SALE $250.00 (1-Z) |
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DAF WWII Mess Hall Gravy Bowl (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-27: SPECIAL SALE) |
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| DESCRIPTION: In regards to mess hall porcelain used by the Third Reich military and paramilitary groups, the scarcest item would invariably be the gravy bowl, also known as “Gravy boat,” as there would be only one to every 6 or 7 place settings. This one was issued to the “DAF” (German Labor Front). This bowl was used at regular dinner occasions where the officers of the corp. would meet and eat! The famed Rosenthal, Ltd., founded in 1879 in Selb Bavaria manufactured this. No maker of porcelain products has ever been so prolific in producing fine top-grade porcelain that was exported throughout the world. In WWII, it produced a limited number of pieces of mess hall porcelain for the Wehrmacht and the DAF. The DAF pieces were for the most part prewar in the 1930s. The condition of this gravy boat is practically mint. The only part that shows any wear is on the bottom where it sat on a table in the mess hall.
PRICE: SOLD (3-Z) |
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DAF Coffee Cup and Saucer (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-28: SPECIAL SALE) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a good-sized coffee cup and saucer from the DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront). The cup and the saucer were produced by two different porcelain manufacturers, but for the same DAF branch. You can tell that by the edge trimming on each. Hutschenreuther produced the saucer, while the cup was by Rosenthal. But they are a match-up because of the same edge coloration and they both have the cogged-wheel swastika under the glaze on their undersides. Inside this stamping is the motto of the DAF–“Schönheit der Arbeit” (“Beauty of Labor”) on both items. Each is in great condition, but show some wear on the decorative border color at the edges of the saucer. This is really nice set!
PRICE: $450.00; Special sale price $395.00 (4-Z) |
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Kriegsmarine Mess Hall Dish by KPM (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-29; KRIEG 10-32) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is a beautiful dinner plate produced for Germany’s navy and used by the Kriegsmarine throughout the war. Many of the famous porcelain companies in Germany such as Meissen, Hutschenreuther, and Rosenthal made mess hall porcelain dinnerware for the Wehrmacht, but by far the premiere company contributing to the armed forces was the company that was first organized by Emperor Frederick II (Frederick the Great), who ruled the kingdom of Prussia from 1740 until 1786. This porcelain was known as “KPM- Berlin”—Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin and that firm produced the absolute finest multifunctional kitchen porcelain. It has excelled in the art for some 255 years and is the oldest porcelain manufacturers in Europe. So, having said that, I might add that to own a KPM piece of porcelain and especially a historically important one is to acquire a treasure indeed! The Plate The dish measures 9½ inches in diameter and is in perfect condition throughout, with slight bottom wear from table use back in the 1940s. It’s clearly marked with the Kriegsmarine eagle and swastika over the “M” for “Marine.” Under that is a crown that sits above the letters “KPM.” Under this is “1941,” the date of manufacture. Navy-issue porcelain is much rarer than other Wehrmacht pieces because of the difference in the number of personnel in the navy compared to the number of other military personnel in the German army. This is a great, original, historically important item worthy of any good collection of WWII rarities. PRICE: SOLD |
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Luftwaffe Mess Hall Soup Toureen (Item MESSHALLPORC 1-30; LUFT 23-12) |
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| DESCRIPTION: The iconic German soup tureen is well presented here in this mint, Luftwaffe mess hall piece. Sad to say, the cover is missing, which makes them more valuable, but it is still a beauty! Solid, German-made porcelain was definitely made to last and even mess hall porcelain fits the bill as well. Measures out at 9 inches wide by 6 inches tall. The lion heads add another two inches on each side. Often, the lion heads are chipped, but this tureen is as we state—mint!
PRICE: $275.00 |
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