Salt-glazed stoneware candlestick signed Krumeich Hubert, Betschdorf, Alsace

Do you like Alsace stoneware? This candlestick is made for you! It is magnificent with its finely detailed cobalt blue decoration. It is signed and stamped underneath. There are several stamps that I will let you discover in the photos, along with the hand signature, embossed in the material "Krumeich H. Betschdorf". My investigation has led me to two leads! Hubert Krumeich-Remmy or Hubert Krumeich (plainly). The former joined the family pottery in 1896 and became the most important potter in Betschdorf, the capital of "grey and blue" pottery. He was responsible for many innovations both technically (the first triple-furnace kiln) and commercially ("Poteries réunies de Betschdorf": a gathering of all potters to facilitate sales). He passed away in 1944 without descendants, and it seems that his pottery ceased after his death. The latter corresponds to a workshop name opened in 1992 and closed in 1997 in Betschdorf. The decoration is very "Art Nouveau", but the presence of several clear stamps and the absence of the name "Remmy" would lead me to lean towards the second hypothesis. This candlestick also has lovely lines, all roundness and softness. All of this reflects a very beautiful artisanal work of turning and glazing. It is in good overall condition, neither cracked nor chipped, but has some minor wear on the glazing, fortunately not very visible, on the upper rim (inner face) of the binet. It measures 12.5 cm in height, 11 cm in diameter at the level of the saucer, and the binet has an inner diameter of approximately 2.3 cm.