COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 327112

Vitreous China, Fine Earthenware, and Other Pottery Product Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

26companies1836–1976founding years24still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedVilleroy & Boch AGFoundedVilleroy & Boch AG
1836
FoundedWürttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF)
1853
FoundedRoyal Doulton plcFoundedRoyal Doulton plc
1854
FoundedBelleek Pottery Ltd.
1859
FoundedRed Wing Pottery Sales, Inc.
1877
FoundedOneida Ltd.FoundedOneida Ltd.
1880
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedChristofle SA
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedWaterford Wedgwood plcFoundedWaterford Wedgwood plc
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedGrupo Lladró S.A.
1951
FoundedCentral Garden & Pet Company
1955
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Franklin MintFoundedThe Franklin Mint
1964
FoundedCeradyne, Inc.
1967
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedThe Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd.
1976
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Villeroy & Boch AG →
Active · founded 1836 · Germany
Villeroy & Boch AG has been one of Europe's top names in household and architectural ceramic goods for more than 250…
Villeroy & Boch AG →
Active · founded 1836 · Germany
Villeroy & Boch AG has been one of Europe's top names in household and architectural ceramic goods for more than 250…
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF) →
Active · founded 1853 · Germany
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of commercial coffee makers and…
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF) →
Active · founded 1853 · Germany
Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG (WMF) is one of the world's leading manufacturers of commercial coffee makers and…
Royal Doulton plc →
Active · founded 1854 · United Kingdom
Royal Doulton plc is one of the world's best-known fine china companies, designing and producing high-quality tableware…
Royal Doulton plc →
Active · founded 1854 · United Kingdom
Royal Doulton plc is one of the world's best-known fine china companies, designing and producing high-quality tableware…
Belleek Pottery Ltd. →
Active · founded 1859 · United Kingdom
Belleek Pottery Ltd.
Belleek Pottery Ltd. →
Active · founded 1859 · United Kingdom
Belleek Pottery Ltd.
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. →
Active · founded 1877
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc.
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc. →
Active · founded 1877
Red Wing Pottery Sales, Inc.
Oneida Ltd. →
Active · founded 1880
Oneida Ltd.
Oneida Ltd. →
Active · founded 1880
Oneida Ltd.
Christofle SA →
Active · founded 1930 · France
Christofle SA commands respect worldwide for its luxury table service products, including the company's traditional…
Christofle SA →
Active · founded 1930 · France
Christofle SA commands respect worldwide for its luxury table service products, including the company's traditional…
Waterford Wedgwood plc →
Defunct · founded 1947 · Ireland
1760s:Wedgwood creates a uniquely cream-colored earthenware, which becomes known as 'Queen's Ware.' 1769: A factory is…
Waterford Wedgwood plc →
Defunct · founded 1947 · Ireland
1760s:Wedgwood creates a uniquely cream-colored earthenware, which becomes known as 'Queen's Ware.' 1769: A factory is…
Grupo Lladró S.A. →
Active · founded 1951 · Spain
Grupo Lladró S.A.
Grupo Lladró S.A. →
Active · founded 1951 · Spain
Grupo Lladró S.A.
Central Garden & Pet Company →
Active · founded 1955
From its position as the largest distributor of lawn and garden and pet supplies in the United States in the late…
Central Garden & Pet Company →
Active · founded 1955
From its position as the largest distributor of lawn and garden and pet supplies in the United States in the late…
The Franklin Mint →
Active · founded 1964
The Franklin Mint is a subsidiary of Roll International Corporation, owned by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, and based in…
The Franklin Mint →
Active · founded 1964
The Franklin Mint is a subsidiary of Roll International Corporation, owned by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, and based in…
Ceradyne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Ceradyne, Inc.
Ceradyne, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Ceradyne, Inc.
The Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd. →
Active · founded 1976 · United Kingdom
The Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd.
The Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd. →
Active · founded 1976 · United Kingdom
The Porcelain and Fine China Companies Ltd.
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