Laacher beer mug

This small series of monastery tableware is built around the soup bowls which are used by the monks in the Maria Laach refectory at mealtimes. The simple stoneware bowls and the other pieces of tableware are produced in the monastery pottery, where the traditional Westerwald clay is cast in plaster moulds or turned on a potter's wheel, as are the plates and cups. The glaze is transparent and enhances the individual character of the clay. It is food-safe and can be machine washed. All pieces are manufactured material-intensively and therefore highly durable. Only where function dictates, for example at the brim of cups, mugs and bowls, the stoneware is finished more thinly. The decor is applied by hand and in a deep sky blue called "Maria Laach blue".

The manufacture of ceramic ware has a long tradition in the Benedictine monastery of Maria Laach in the Eifel. In fact, the monastery is located in a region which has been known for this hand craftsmanship for hundreds of years. In that regard, the monastery went through a renaissance in the early 20th century at the hands of a Bauhaus school trained monk, Theodor Bogler. Under the direction of Brother Kilian, the ceramic workshops have now been reopened. The monks are able to apply all the classic techniques with the potter's wheel and casting mould. In addition, the monastery employed a porcelain painter trained in Meissen, the home of the famous Meissen porcelain. In the monastery's workshop, she performs the full palette of her art. For this tableware, the glazing is more reserved and limited to a few lines in the typical "Maria Laach blue".

The starting point for this small series of monastery crockery is the Laach soup bowl. The bowl is the preferred choice for serving meals in the monks’ refectory. The ceramics workshop produces the simple stoneware bowls (and the other tableware pieces alike) in the traditional way: with Westerwald clay cast in plaster moulds or turned on the wheel (re: plates and mugs). The transparent glaze clearly reveals the clay’s characteristics; it is food-safe and suitable for the dishwasher. Made with intensive use of materials, the pieces are all very robust. However, the potters go for thinner walls wherever functionally required: on the rims of cups, bowls, and mugs. They apply the décor in Laach blue by hand.

The production of ceramic objects has a long tradition in the Benedictine monastery of Maria Laach in the Eifel. That doesn’t come as a surprise, as the monastery’s home region has been undoubtedly known for this craft for centuries. Thanks to the Bauhaus-trained monk Theodor Bogler, the handicraft experienced a new heyday in Maria Laach in the early 20th century. After years of decline, the ceramics workshop saw a reopening a few years ago. Currently, Br. Stephan is in charge. Working with him are master ceramist Gabi Schöneberger and porcelain painter Andrea Lange. Today they work again both classically on the wheel and with the help of the casting process that Theodor Bogler had established. The Laach monastery tableware is their priority. The transparent glaze used with the dinnerware brings out the characteristics of the clay particularly well – and it is suitable for the dishwasher. All pieces feature material-intensive manufacture and are therefore robust; however, the potters build the parts more delicate that require it functionally: the rims of cups, bowls, and mugs. The individual parts receive their decoration in Laach Blue by hand.

The production of ceramic objects has a long tradition in the Benediktinerabtei Maria Laach in the Eifel. In any case, the monastery is located in a region that has been known for this craft for centuries. In Maria Laach in particular, it experienced a new heyday in the early 20th century thanks to the Bauhaus-trained monk Theodor Bogler. After the ceramics workshop had only a shadowy existence, it was reopened a few years ago. Currently it is managed by Br. Stephan. The master ceramist Gabi Schöneberger and the porcelain painter Andrea Lange work with him. Both classically at the wheel and in the casting process, which Bogler established, is worked again today.