J&C (Jaeger & Co) Bavaria

Handels Bavaria Porcelain Co.

Jaeger & Co. is a Bavarian porcelain manufacturer known for high-quality tableware, decorative pieces, and hotel porcelain. Founded in the late 19th century in Germany’s porcelain region, it produced both elegant domestic wares and robust professional lines, making it a recognized name among collectors of European ceramics.

Key Facts

  • Industry: Porcelain and ceramics manufacturing

  • Location: Bavaria, Germany (traditionally around Marktredwitz/Selb region)

  • Founded: Late 19th century (around 1870s–1890s)

  • Products: Tableware, decorative porcelain, hotel and restaurant porcelain

  • Collectors’ note: Marks and backstamps are key for dating and authentication

Historical Background

Jaeger & Co. emerged during a boom in Bavarian porcelain, when the region became a major competitor to established Bohemian and French makers. The firm developed a reputation for clean forms and refined decoration, ranging from floral and neoclassical motifs to later, more simplified modern designs. Over time, it supplied both private households and commercial clients such as hotels and restaurants seeking durable but attractive porcelain.

Products & Design Style

The company’s output covered dinner services, coffee and tea sets, vases, and decorative plates. Designs often feature fine white bodies, subtle relief work, and overglaze decoration in gold, green, or pastel floral patterns. Some lines reflect early- to mid-20th-century trends like Art Nouveau curves or pared-down geometric borders, which makes many pieces easy to date stylistically even before checking the backstamp.

Marks & Collecting

Collectors typically identify Jaeger & Co. porcelain by its factory marks on the underside of pieces. These marks changed over time, often including a crown, shield, or stylized “J” along with “Bavaria” or “Germany.” Different eras used different wording and graphic styles, so comparing the mark to reference guides is a common way to estimate production decade and assess rarity or desirability. Well-preserved sets and unusual patterns tend to be the most sought after on the secondary market.