Sarreguemines.

Sarreguemines

The Sarreguemines faience manufactory is one of France's great faience houses, founded in 1790 in the Moselle town that gives it its name. For over two centuries, it produced signature décors that marked French table art: Obernai with its Alsatian scenes, Strasbourg and its bouquets, Petite Rose, Digoin, alongside the 19th century talking plates prized by collectors. Production was halted in 2007 after 217 years of industrial history, which has reinforced the patrimonial value of pieces on the vintage market.

House history

The Sarreguemines faience manufactory was founded in 1790 by the Jacobi brothers in Sarreguemines, a Moselle town on the German border. Taken over in 1800 by Paul Utzschneider, it took off under the Utzschneider family direction and grew during the 19th century. The manufactory expanded with the opening of secondary sites in Digoin (Saône-et-Loire) in 1877 and Vitry-le-François (Marne) in 1881. This multi-site strategy allowed Sarreguemines to become one of Europe's largest faience manufactories at the turn of the 20th century.

The house distinguished itself through mastery of chromolithograph-printed décors, a technique allowing industrial production of complex patterns. It developed majolicas (relief-glazed faience), talking plates (themed series with humorous or historical texts on the rim), and table services in floral or regional décors. Sarreguemines received numerous distinctions at the Universal Exhibitions: Gold medal in Paris in 1855, distinctions at Vienna 1873, Paris 1878, 1889 and 1900.

In the 20th century, the house continued with the signature décors that built its reputation: Obernai created in the 1920s with its Alsatian scenes in traditional costume, Strasbourg and its multicoloured bouquets, Petite Rose and Digoin for the utilitarian range. International competition, the rise of industrial porcelain and successive ownership changes gradually weakened the company. Production ceased in 2007. The Moselle site today houses a faience techniques museum and the Cité du Verre et de la Faïence.

Iconic pieces we source

Obernai décor. Alsatian scenes in vivid colours, figures in traditional costume against half-timbered houses. Created in the 1920s, became emblematic of the house. Complete Obernai services with plates, platters and service pieces are sought by regional collectors and beyond.

Strasbourg décor. Multicoloured floral bouquet décor, house classic. More restrained than Obernai, in demand for sober tables.

Petite Rose décor. Minimal décor with pink roses on white ground. Legible, classic, sought for its neutrality.

Digoin décor. Utilitarian faience range produced on the Digoin site, Sarreguemines & Digoin marking. Simpler décors, often floral or geometric. More accessible in price.

19th century talking plates. Themed series with humorous texts or historical scenes on the rim. History of France, La Fontaine, military scenes, humorous scenes. Sought by specialist collectors.

Service pieces. Soup tureens, covered vegetable dishes, large oval platters, raviers, sauceboats, butter dishes. Rarer than dinner plates, service pieces in Obernai or Strasbourg hold higher vintage value.

Recognising authenticity

Sarreguemines pieces carry an underside marking that has evolved by period. 19th century pieces often carry the Utzschneider & Cie mention, sometimes with a figurative stamp. From 1900, the Sarreguemines marking appears, sometimes accompanied by Digoin for Burgundy site productions. 20th century pieces carry a black, blue or green printed stamp, often followed by the décor name. Flat bottoms sometimes carry a mould number. Cross-referencing with period catalogues (consultable at the Sarreguemines museum) allows precise identification. Faience density and glaze refinement remain secondary consistency criteria: Sarreguemines produces dense faience, with bright and regular glaze.

LAPIERRE process for this house

Each Sarreguemines sourcing batch is sorted piece by piece. Integrity check (chips, hairline cracks, hidden restorations), gentle cleaning in lukewarm water without solvent, systematic photograph of the marking. Décor identification by cross-referencing with period catalogues. Detailed documentation for complete services: piece count by category, condition of each piece, décor consistency. Pieces with old restoration are flagged, price adjusted accordingly. Partial services are sold as such, without artificial reconstitution.

Request a search

Looking for a specific Sarreguemines piece (complete Obernai service, Strasbourg soup tureen, 19th century talking plate) not in the selection? Write to LAPIERRE with the brief: décor, desired configuration, budget. Our team activates its sourcing network in Lorraine and across France to identify the piece or compose an equivalent.