Tag Archives: Raerens Stoneware

Pottery museum Raeren, a Modern Pilgrimage for all Stoneware Potters

In pottery museum Raeren (Belgium), you can feel the adventure, excitement and drama that has taken place beneath your feet. Stoneware has been fired in this border region near Aachen (Germany) and Vaals (the Netherlands), for 500 years, This stoneware pottery, “Rheinisch Steinzeug” was the first stoneware developed in Europe.

In the 16th century, this village grew into one of the largest stoneware centers in Europe. Raerens stoneware can be found all over the world. In museums and in private collections of ceramics connoisseurs.

Pottery museum Raeren , inside
Pottery Museum Raeren

Sometimes new finds surface. Literally from shipwrecks such as the “Vergulde Draeck” off the west coast of Australia. But mostly through excavations in Raeren itself.

If you want to feel the history of European stoneware down to your spine, you should visit the Raeren pottery museum. Even if it’s only once in your life… but more often is also allowed!

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The rise and fall of Raeren Stoneware

Production Raeren Stoneware, circa 1550:

“Stop! No more wood, the white fire has been reached. Scoop the salt into the kiln.”

Men with faces covered in dirty rags, with blisters on their hands defying the caustic chlorine fumes that hang around the kiln like a white cloud. With tearful eyes they scoop kilos of salt into the kiln. Finally, the kilnmaster gives the signal: they can close the kiln.

For five days and nights they have fired a kiln with more than 2,000 pots. The work of many months is at stake. If this kiln fails, all will be in vain.

Not to mention the consequences for the pottery and the families who depend on it. Can the debt still be paid this month or will it be seized by the freelord?

Oil painting by André Blank: Raeren and the most important export areas (Pottery Museum Raeren)
Oil painting by André Blank: Raeren and the most important export areas (Pottery Museum Raeren)

How did a small village on the Lower Rhine develop into one of the largest producers of European stoneware in the 16th century? For that we have to go back to Roman times…

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