Villeroy & Boch

Founding and Early History – 1748 to 1836

The history of Villeroy & Boch begins with two independent founding stories that run in parallel for decades before being united in a merger in 1836. The first chapter opens with François Boch, who establishes a stoneware manufactory in Audun-le-Tiche in Lorraine in 1748. The location – on the border between the Holy Roman Empire and France – provides advantageous access to raw materials and markets on both sides. The Boch family's manufactory quickly develops into a significant producer of utilitarian ceramics and is relocated over the following decades to several sites, including Septfontaines in Luxembourg and eventually Mettlach on the Saar.

In parallel, Nicolas Villeroy founds his own stoneware factory in 1791 in Vaudrevange, today's Wallerfangen in the Saarland. Both companies are active in the same markets and in direct competition with one another. In 1836, the owning families recognise the strategic advantages of joining forces: shared production capacity, broader market coverage and a stronger position against the rising industrial competition. The merger to form Villeroy & Boch creates one of the largest ceramic companies in Europe and lays the foundation for a brand history that continues to this day.

Mettlach as Headquarters and Production Site

Mettlach on the Saar has been the headquarters of Villeroy & Boch since 1809. At that time the company took over the grounds of a dissolved Benedictine monastery dating back to the 7th century and converted the historic buildings into production facilities. The so-called «Alter Turm» – an old Carolingian round tower on the company grounds – is considered one of the oldest preserved structures in the Saarland and remains the hallmark of the Villeroy & Boch brand.

The decision to keep production of key product lines in Mettlach is a deliberate strategic positioning, even in an era of global production relocation. Mettlach is not merely an administrative headquarters – it is the site of research, development and parts of manufacturing. The physical proximity of design, development and production contributes to quality assurance and enables short development cycles when launching new collections.

Design History and the Commitment to Design

Villeroy & Boch has on several occasions played a pioneering role in European ceramic and design history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the company was instrumental in spreading the Art Nouveau movement in ceramics. Mosaic tiles from Villeroy & Boch were used in major construction projects, including stations of the Paris Métro and public buildings across various European countries – works that are today regarded as part of the architectural heritage.

In the area of table culture, Villeroy & Boch has for decades collaborated with international designers to develop collections that combine classical porcelain craftsmanship with contemporary formal language. The range extends from restrained, classical lines such as «Anmut» to formally experimental collections such as «New Wave», which works with organic, flowing forms. Each collection is developed as a self-contained range – plates, bowls, cups, glasses and accessories are coordinated and designed to be combined.

The Range – Table Culture, Bathroom Ceramics, Tiles

The Villeroy & Boch range is divided into three main areas. The historically established core is table culture: porcelain and ceramic tableware in dozens of collections, complemented by glasses, cutlery and table linen. For production, the company uses high-density porcelain with pronounced translucency as well as hard ceramic for robust everyday use. Special glazes combine dishwasher resistance with brilliant colour – a technical standard continuously developed by the research and development team in Mettlach.

The second area encompasses bathroom ceramics and wellness products: washbasins, bathtubs, showers and sanitary installations, all following the same design philosophy as the table culture collections. The third area is tiles and floor coverings – a segment in which Villeroy & Boch can look back on a particularly long tradition and which is among the company's best-known product areas internationally.

Product Range at a Glance

Table culture (tableware, cups, glasses, cutlery) · Bathroom ceramics & wellness · Tiles & floor coverings

Villeroy & Boch at miniSchoggi

miniSchoggi carries a selection of tableware and cups from Villeroy & Boch because table culture and the joy of homemade are natural partners. Those who bake and decorate with care apply the same standard to what stands on the table. Villeroy & Boch meets that standard: the products are crafted with precision, designed with purpose and built for long-term use.

The range at miniSchoggi includes tableware and cups from various collections – pieces that are equally suited to everyday use and special occasions, and that endure beyond seasons by virtue of their quality and design. Villeroy & Boch stands for products that do not need replacing because they do not go out of style. This durability – material as well as aesthetic – is the reason miniSchoggi carries this range and recommends it to its customers.

Shaped in Europe. Since 1748. Villeroy & Boch.