RS Germany Porcelain: Marks, Patterns, and Collector Values
RS Germany refers to porcelain produced by the Reinhold Schlegelmilch factory in Tillowitz, Upper Silesia (now Tulowice, Poland), which operated from 1869 until 1956. The "RS" stands for Reinhold Schlegelmilch, and the "Germany" designation was used on export wares shipped primarily to the American market between approximately 1904 and 1938.
The factory specialized in high-quality decorated porcelain tableware, dresser sets, and ornamental pieces that were widely sold through department stores and mail-order catalogs across the United States. A separate branch operated by Reinhold's brother Erdmann in Suhl, Thuringia, produced porcelain marked "RS Prussia," which should not be confused with RS Germany despite their family connection.
Identification and Marks
The standard RS Germany mark features the letters "RS" in an ornamental wreath with a star above and "Germany" below. Variations exist across the factory's production periods.
The earliest export marks, used from roughly 1904 to 1914, show a green wreath with "RS" and "Germany" in block letters. A blue mark variant was used during some production years. After World War I, marks sometimes read "RS Silesia" or "RS Poland" as political boundaries shifted. The red "RS Germany" mark with a more stylized wreath is associated with pieces from the 1920s and 1930s.
Distinguishing RS Germany from RS Prussia is crucial, as RS Prussia pieces typically command significantly higher prices. RS Prussia marks feature a red or green wreath with a star and the word "Prussia" rather than "Germany."
Mold numbers stamped into the base can help identify specific forms and cross-reference with known pattern books.
Types and Popular Patterns
RS Germany produced a wide range of forms including cake plates, chocolate sets, celery trays, hatpin holders, relish dishes, creamers and sugars, berry sets, and dresser trays with matching accessories. Decorative styles range from hand-painted florals to transfer-printed designs with gold trim.
The most sought-after patterns include the Sheepherder scene, Man with Horses, and Castle Scene transfer designs. Floral patterns featuring roses, poppies, lilies, and orchids are the most common and widely collected.
Pieces with Art Nouveau styling, iridescent Tiffany-finish glazes, and satin finishes attract premium prices. Figural molds such as those shaped like shells, leaves, and flowers add to desirability.
Multi-color pieces with cobalt blue, burgundy, or green backgrounds layered with gold stencil work represent the upper end of the decorative spectrum.
Price Ranges
| Category | Description | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic transfer pieces | Sheepherder, Castle, Man with Horses | $75 - $400 |
| Tiffany-finish pieces | Iridescent and lustre glazes | $60 - $250 |
| Chocolate pots and sets | Complete with cups | $100 - $350 |
| Cake plates | Handled, decorated, various patterns | $25 - $100 |
| Dresser sets | Tray with hatpin holder, ring tree, boxes | $80 - $300 |
| Hatpin holders | Various shapes and decorations | $30 - $120 |
| Berry or fruit sets | Master bowl with smaller bowls | $60 - $200 |
| Common floral plates | Standard rose and poppy transfer prints | $10 - $40 |
| Creamers and sugars | Matched pairs | $20 - $60 |
| Celery and relish trays | Oblong serving pieces | $15 - $50 |
Condition Factors
RS Germany porcelain is durable but not immune to damage over a century of use. Check gold trim carefully, as worn or rubbed gilding is the most common flaw and can reduce value by twenty to forty percent.
Examine pieces under strong light for hairline cracks, which are sometimes hidden beneath transfer decoration. Look at handles and finials for repairs, particularly on chocolate pots, teapots, and covered sugar bowls.
Flaking or peeling of transfer decoration occurs when pieces have been subjected to repeated washing or dishwasher use. Staining from contents, especially in bowls and cream pitchers, can be difficult to remove and detracts from value.
Chips on foot rims are common but generally tolerated by collectors if minor. Complete sets with all original pieces intact command substantial premiums over assembled or partial sets.
Collecting Tips
RS Germany offers an accessible entry point for porcelain collectors, with common pieces available at modest prices and rarer examples providing upward collecting potential. Build a reference library that includes the works of Mary Frank Gaston, whose books on RS Prussia and RS Germany remain the standard identification guides.
Examine pieces in person whenever possible, as photographs often fail to capture the quality differences between hand-painted and transfer-decorated examples.
Attend antique shows, estate sales, and regional auctions in the American Midwest and Northeast, where RS Germany was most widely distributed.
Be cautious of pieces with heavily worn marks, as some sellers attempt to pass off unmarked porcelain as RS Germany. Complete chocolate sets, large serving pieces, and items with unusual mold forms consistently perform best at auction.
Pairs and matched sets always bring more than the sum of their individual parts.