Carlsbad porcelain

Tradition, Design & Excellence in Czech Porcelain

Company History

Karlovarský porcelán n.p. (Carlsbad Porcelain National Enterprise) was one of the leading porcelain producers in former Czechoslovakia. It was established in 1958 through the merger of several regional manufacturers located in the renowned Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) region – an area with porcelain-making traditions dating back to the 18th century.

The national enterprise included famous factories such as:

• Thun (Klášterec nad Ohří),

• Loučky (known for the TRIA series by Jaroslav Ježek),

• Lesov, Dalovice, Stará Role, Bochov, and others.

Its products were exported to over 80 countries worldwide, and the company became a symbol of high-quality, modern design. Porcelain by Karlovarský porcelán was frequently presented at world exhibitions such as EXPO 58 in Brussels.

Artists & Collaborators

Karlovarský porcelán n.p. collaborated with many of the most important Czech and Slovak designers and artists of the time, who contributed to both form and decoration. These included:

• Jaroslav Ježek – creator of iconic services like Tria, Elka, Hanka, and the espresso set that debuted at EXPO 58.

• Jiří Laštovička – designer of tableware and tea sets.

• František Koudelka – author of modern decors and shape innovations.

• Jaroslav Sůra, Zdeněk Kovář, Milan Dobrý – artists who worked closely with the ÚBOK (Institute for Housing and Clothing Culture).

Thanks to these collaborations, Karlovarský porcelán became a benchmark for mid-century modern porcelain design in Europe.

Present Day

Following the political and economic changes after 1989, the enterprise underwent transformation and privatization. The tradition lives on through the company Thun 1794 a.s., which continues to produce porcelain in Nová Role (near Karlovy Vary), preserving the legacy of quality Czech craftsmanship.