Ceramic vessels have been used in households across the world for 8,000 years. The basic forms of the storage vessels, cookware and tableware are determined by their function. The style, quality and decoration are typical of the periods in question. They can mostly be easily dated. The more professional and larger scale ceramic production became, the easier it is to assign products to areas and specific workshops. 

Schwarzhafner (“black ceramics”) goods were primarily produced in Obernzell in the district of Passau.

Grünhafner (“green ceramics”) goods came predominantly from Kröningen in Bavaria.

The majolica technique for producing colourful painted and glazed earthenware originated in Holland. Workshops in Gmunden soon specialised in producing these goods. The cobalt blue of ceramics from Delft was the inspiration for Gmunden ceramics’ blue period. In the final decades of the 18th century, ceramics were designed in the primary colours. For technical reasons, red became more of a brownish-purple. Green was the most popular colour until around 1850, which is why this era is also known as the green period. Traditional folk scenes are most characteristic of these products. Traditional functional pieces with flashes of green are still produced today. 

Stoneware, which is fired at high temperatures and has good break resistance, was also popular.

Around 150 years ago, it was decorated with a stoneware transfer print fired at a relatively low temperature. To achieve this, coloured glaze patterns were printed onto paper, cut to size and applied to the unfired pot before firing. 

The Asian monopoly over porcelain was broken in the 18th century. In Germany, the secret of porcelain production was revealed and the oldest and best-known porcelain factory was founded in Meissen as early as 1710. Porcelain goods remained a prestigious luxury reserved for rich households for many years.