Laacher plate small

For a slice of cake, a small bite in between or as a saucer.

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.