Reinhold Hanke / August Hanke
Rheinstraße 10,12 & Rheinstraße 17 (Marktstraße 10), Höhr bei Coblenz. Hesse-Nassau, Prussia. (now Höhr-Grenzhausen, Rhineland - Palatinate).
Kunstgewerbliche Steinzeugwarenfabrik / Industrial art stoneware manufacturer
Reinhold Hanke was born on the 7th November 1839 in Freudenham, Bohemia, a village near Decin, now situated in the Czech Republic. In 1853 he began teaching pottery forming. In 1858 he was apprenticed to Siderolithwarenfabrik Baer & Maresch in Bohemia. In 1863 he worked as a model maker for a Terracotta manufacturer in Saxony. He moved to Höhr in May, 1864, where he was briefly a modeller for Knödgen, Maxein & Company. In October 1864, he went into partnership with Ottmar Speyser to form Siderolithwaarenfabrik von Speyser und Hanke zu Höhr. 1867 saw Ottmar Speyser disappear, leaving Hanke with all the company debts. The new Stoneware factory of Reinhold Hanke was launched in 1868. He won prestigious orders to supply stoneware to Castle Eltz and Castle Stolzenfels in 1869. In 1873 he was the only Westerwalder exhibiting at the World Exhibition, held that year in Vienna. In the same year the factory received a visit from Kaiserin Augusta, wife of Kaiser Wilhelm I.
Honours were soon to follow.
Ernannt: Augusta, Deutsche Kaiserin und Königin von Preußen, Hoflieferant, 16/8/1876.
Appointed: Supplier to the Royal Court of Augusta, German Empress and Queen of Prussia, on the 16/8/1876.
When Hanke died on 22nd June 1886, his wife, Maria (née Krebs) ran the factory, until their sons, August (b.31st December 1875) & Carl (b.6th April 1872 - d.10th March 1908), were old enough to take over in 1901. Meanwhile August had studied during 1893 at the Königliche Porzellanmanufaktur, Berlin, and at the Munich Arts & Crafts College, through 1894. At some point, he supplied design/s to Reinhold Merkelbach. During 1912 and 1913 some of their products were also distributed via Steinzeugwerke Höhr Grenzhausen Gmbh. There was a disastrous fire at the factory on 1st & 2nd August 1921, when all the moulds were destroyed. August Hanke unsuccessfully attempted to rebuild his business, but he still produced some ceramics at a reduced level until he died on 27th September, 1938. The damaged factories were torn down and the site was subsequently redeveloped, but Rheinstraße 17 (this address was called Marktstraße 10 during 1935/36) was rented by Gerz-Krug- und Steinzeugmanufaktur Inhaber Jean Maas from around 1930, until 1965. The company of Reinhold Hanke remained registered at this address until around 1983.
The following designers either designed the pottery for Reinhold Hanke, or put their decoration on standard pieces.
Peter Behrens Adolph Dekker Rudy Dekker Peter Dümler P.Flötner Alfred Kamp G.K. Albin Camillo Müller Wilhelm Ratelbeck V. Stephan Henry Clemens van de Velde
Reference: Character Steins catalogue Twisted vine handles Uni Heidelberg pg. 45 Reinhold Hanke
Front cover of catalogue, dated 1888 or later. (Click to enlarge) 
Bustle Lady, side view, 1/2L. Reinhold Hanke #895. 
Unusual Circular impressed mark on featured "Bustle Lady" #895 stein. 
This basemark represents the Royal Arms of Wilhelm 1, King of Prussia & Emperor of Germany, joined with Augusta, Queen of Prussia & Empress of Germany, Wilhelm's arms being on the left, with Augusta's on the right. These would have been used upon the award of Hoflieferant to Hanke, by Augusta. 
Advertisement of a Berlin art shop, who was also a "Hoflieferant Ihrer Majestät der Kaiserin und Königin Augusta", but not connected to Hanke, showing the same Royal Arms as the Hanke base mark above. 
"Monkey with Top Hat" #1261 Character stein. Impressed with curved "GERMANY". 
Coblenz Coat of Arms Ink stamp, on #1357, together with curved impressed "Germany". 
Coblenz Coat of Arms Ink stamp, , on #1753 
Whilst not unique, the impressed curved "Germany" is indicative of Hanke. 
Just "Hanke" & Germany curved this time. 
Whilst not unique, the impressed curved "Germany" is indicative of Hanke, this time together with R.H. 
Whilst not unique, the impressed curved "Germany" is indicative of Hanke, this time together with R.H. 
Hoflieferant Jhrer Majestät der deutschen Kaiserin u. Königin v. Preussen. 
Bustle Lady, front view, 1/2L. Reinhold Hanke #895. 
30" tall, masterstein, dated circa 1870 - 1885 Photo courtesy of Galveston Historical Foundation. 
This basemark on #1262 represents the Royal Arms of Wilhelm 1, King of Prussia & Emperor of Germany, joined with Augusta, Queen of Prussia & Empress of Germany, Wilhelm's arms being on the left, with Augusta's on the right. These would have been used upon the award of Hoflieferant to Hanke, by Augusta. 
Impressed mark, dated around 1910 on a Jugendstil bottle (identical to the one below with Mampe mark), manufactured by R. Hanke, supposedly designed by Albin Müller. 
Impressed mark, dated around 1910 on a Jugendstil bottle, manufactured by R. Hanke, supposedly designed by Albin Müller. The family of Carl Mampe, had a large distillery at Hallesche Straße 17 (SW11), Berlin, and also owned several restaurants, all called "Mampes Gute Stube", the most prestigious of which was at Kurfürstendamm 14/15, Berlin. 
Reinhold Hanke #2083, with the mark of Mathilde Satz-Glücksburg, a pupil of Henry Clemens van de Velde, dated 1905 - 1910. 
N.B. Just "Hanke" with curved Germany 
Impressed mark on the base of a Punch Bowl and Cover #759 as listed in the R. Hanke catalogue. 
Back cover of catalogue, dated 1888 or later. (Click to enlarge) 
Bustle Lady, side view, 1/2L. Reinhold Hanke #895. 
1/2 litre Hanke #1411 stein. The true base is on the level of the rings just below handle. 
Basemark on the Hanke #1411 stein above. Note impressed Helvetica (sans serif) curved "GERMANY". 
The stand-alone Helvetica (sans serif) style "GERMANY" all in caps, followed by a full stop, is a solid R.Hanke identifier. 
Impressed straight "Hanke" mark. 
R. Hanke & Germany both curved.. 
Whilst not unique, the impressed curved "Germany" is indicative of Hanke. In this case with the decorators mark, Louis Rembach and the subject of the stein, the castle hamlet of Wartburg, only one mile from Eisenach. 
H.C. van de Velde design on Reinhold Hanke stein 
Reinhold Merkelbach #2520 designed by August Hanke. 