Prince Regent China
Prince Regent China is a Bavarian porcelain trade name used on fine tableware produced in Germany in the early 20th century. It appears mainly as a backstamp such as “LDB&Co. Prince Regent China Germany” or “Prince Regent Bavaria” on export wares, especially for the North American and French markets.
Key Facts
Type: Trade name / brand used on porcelain
Region: Bavaria, Germany
Production period: Mainly from about 1910 onward
Manufacturer: Porzellanfabrik Moschendorf A.G. (Moschendorf Porcelain Company)
Distributor mark: Often combined with “LDB&Co.” export mark
Background & Ownership
Prince Regent (sometimes written “Princ’e Regent”) was registered as a trade name by the Moschendorf porcelain factory in Bavaria, together with variants “Prince Regent Bavaria” and “Prince Regent Germany.” Moschendorf originated in 1879 (as Kühnert & Tischler) and adopted the Moschendorf name in 1895, later becoming Porzellanfabrik Otto Reinecke; the works finally closed in 1957.
The trade name was used to signal a Bavarian origin and to evoke the prestige of the Bavarian prince regency era, which had strong cultural associations but is not tied to a specific royal warrant for this brand.
Role of LDB&Co. & Export Use
Many Prince Regent China pieces carry a crowned circular “LDB&Co. Prince Regent China Germany” mark. LDB&Co. was a New York–based importing and distribution firm that commissioned decorated “blanks” from Moschendorf and other European factories.
The “L.D.B.Co. Prince Regent” mark was used especially as a special export mark on wares made for the Flambeau China Co. of Limoges, France, which decorated and retailed these items. As a result, Prince Regent China often shows a mix of Bavarian porcelain bodies, German backstamps, and sometimes French decorating marks.
Collecting & Identification
Collectors typically identify Prince Regent China by:
Round crowned “LDB&Co. Prince Regent China Germany” backstamps
Standalone “Prince Regent Bavaria” or “Princ’e Regent Bavaria” marks
Early-1900s Bavarian porcelain forms: salt dishes, small bowls, hatpin vases, chocolate pots, and floral luncheon plates.
These pieces are considered charming examples of pre–World War I export porcelain, with value depending on condition, pattern, and completeness of sets rather than the trade name alone.