Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de la faience et des techniques faiencières was established in 1923 as a regional museum, with the mission of preserving the traditions and history of Sarreguemines and its region. Initially focused on popular arts, his collections were dispersed during World War II. He reopened in 1972 by specializing in ceramic arts, highlighting the historical production of the Sarreguemines manufacture and contemporary creations.

The Sarreguemines earthworks, founded in 1790, enjoyed exceptional growth in the 19th century, becoming one of the largest in Europe with more than 3,000 workers around 1900. Specializing in fine earthenware, sandstone and porcelain, she won numerous medals at international exhibitions. The museum maintains detailed archives of its techniques and achievements, illustrating the artistic and industrial evolution of ceramics.

The museum's winter garden, made between 1880 and 1882, is a decorative masterpiece entirely covered with earthenware tiles designed by the artists of the factory. There is a monumental fountain decorated with nymphs, floral motifs announcing Art Nouveau, and allegories celebrating fire and earth, key elements of ceramics. The walls also bear the initials "S" for Sarreguemines and "D" for Digoin, its branch.

The permanent collections, distributed in six rooms, present all the ceramic materials (cooked earth, fine earthware, sandstone, porcelain) and document the technical innovations of the factory. Two terracotta medallions pay tribute to Paul Utzschneider and Alexandre de Geiger, major figures of the company. A panel also represents the pavilion of Paul de Geiger, director of the factory, built around 1880 near the Saarland.

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