How Westerwald Stoneware Conquered Europe’s Trade Routes and Culture

From Rhineland workshops to Amsterdam’s ports, this free lecture reveals the hidden journey of a humble craft. A story of art, trade, and cultural legacy.

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2025 December 7 . 1:04 PM

1 min read

This is the picture of a museum plaque on which there is something written and also we can see some... — This is the picture of a museum plaque on which there is something written and also we can see some sculptures on it.

How Westerwald Stoneware Conquered Europe’s Trade Routes and Culture

Luxury Ceramics from Höhr-Grenzhausen: Lecture at the City Museum - Westerwald Stoneware Worldwide: Trade Routes and Cultural History.

A free lecture on the history of Westerwald stoneware will take place at the Stadtmuseum am Markt in Wiesbaden. Annette Zeischka-Kenzler, an expert from the Westerwald Ceramics Museum, will lead the event on Tuesday, November 11, at 6:00 PM. The talk is part of the ongoing exhibition Gray, Blue, Incised: Westerwald Stoneware, which remains open until March 1, 2026.

The lecture will trace how Westerwald stoneware evolved from a regional craft into a highly valued European commodity. Starting in the late 16th century, small workshops in Höhr-Grenzhausen produced pieces that soon travelled along established trade routes. These networks linked the Rhineland to major European ports like Amsterdam, London, and Copenhagen, using rivers and sea vessels to move the goods.

The event offers a closer look at how a local German craft gained international status. Visitors will learn about the trade systems and cultural shifts that turned Westerwald stoneware into a European staple. The lecture also complements the museum’s special exhibition, which continues through early 2026.