Hand-painted, lead- and cadmium-free one-of-a-kind ceramics – crafted by hand in the Hunsrück
Töpferei Cullmann
Nockenthal (Hunsrück), Rhineland-PalatinateNew on Amplifa
About the pottery
The Töpferei Cullmann pottery was founded around 25 years ago by Thorsten Cullmann and Karin Wittbrodt in Bubach in the Hunsrück; since 1998 the business has been producing in Nockenthal near Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate. Hand-painted functional and art ceramics are produced, including cat mugs with pet names and sayings, mugs with names, door signs for outdoor use, as well as saucers and colourful motif items. Each piece is made by hand and is a unique one-off. The decoration is applied with self-developed engobes using slip trailers (Malhörnchen) and brushes on raw or bisque-fired clay; the ceramics are then glazed and fired three times at over 1250 °C, resulting in a dishwasher-safe, food-safe and weatherproof surface. The raw materials used are a clay that has been specially produced in the Westerwald for about ten years as well as tested, technically lead- and cadmium-free glazes purchased exclusively in Germany. The ceramics are sold via the company's own online shop, the workshop with retail sales, and at pottery and Christmas markets in Germany and abroad.
- Site
- Nockenthal
- Processes
- Ceramic production/pottery (handcrafted, unique pieces), Painting with engobes on raw or bisque-fired clay (slip trailers and brushes, handcraft), Glazing (lead- and cadmium-free, food-safe), Firing (fired 3 times, at over 1250 °C), Bisque firing of the clay (bisque-fired clay before painting, inferred), Production of own clay mix according to individual requirements (for approx. 10 years, in, Hand-painting of individual ceramics (own engobes), Lettering/custom motifs on ceramics
- Materials
- Own clay (individually produced in the Westerwald), lead- and cadmium-free glazes (tested, high-quality raw materials from Germany), Self-developed engobes, Own clay, Lead- and cadmium-free glazes
- Certificates
- Lead- and cadmium-free glazes, ISO 9001
- Industries
- Ceramics/Crafts, Gift items, Private customers, Ceramics/Crafts (tableware, cat mugs, door signs)
- 01
Own clay mix (Westerwald)
- 02
Shaping by hand
- 03
Bisque firing
- 04
Painting with self-developed engobes
- 05
Glazing
- 06
3-fold firing at over 1250 °C
- 07
Sale/shipping
Materials & Processes
Own clay
Individually produced for approx. 10 years in cooperation with a clay company in the Westerwald; very stable, dishwasher-safe, food-safe.
Lead- and cadmium-free glazes
Technically lead- and cadmium-free, food-safe and microwave-safe; raw materials exclusively from Germany.
Self-developed engobes
Applied by hand to raw or bisque-fired clay and protected by the glaze after firing.
Locations
Nockenthal
DEWorkshop/production with retail sales and demonstrations (by appointment)
- Lot size
- Single pieces/unique items
- Materials
- Own clay, engobes, lead- and cadmium-free glazes
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic production/pottery (handcrafted, unique pieces)Plastics | – | – | – | – | own clay (Westerwald), lead- and cadmium-free glazes, self-developed engobes |
| Painting with engobes on raw or bisque-fired clay (slip trailers and brushes, handcraft)Surface | – | – | – | – | engobes, clay |
| Glazing (lead- and cadmium-free, food-safe)Surface | – | – | – | – | lead- and cadmium-free glazes |
| Firing (fired 3 times, at over 1250 °C)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | clay, glazes, engobes |
| Bisque firing of the clay (bisque-fired clay before painting, inferred)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | clay |
| Production of own clay mix according to individual requirements (for approx. 10 years, inEngineering | – | – | – | – | clay |
Additional services
Quality & Health
From the very beginning, only technically lead- and cadmium-free glazes have been used; the raw materials for colours and glazes are tested and purchased exclusively in Germany. The ceramics are food-safe, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe.
| Evidence | Nockenthal |
|---|---|
| Lead- and cadmium-free glazes | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- ~1999
Founding of the pottery by Thorsten Cullmann and Karin Wittbrodt in Bubach in the Hunsrück (website: 25 years ago, as of 2024)
- 1998
Relocation to Nockenthal near Idar-Oberstein; production there ever since
For approx. 10 years, own clay recipe, produced in the Westerwald in cooperation with a clay company