D – The glass manufacturer, Ritzenhoff, is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. Since 1904, the company has been creating glasses for special moments. The company originated as the Fürstenberger forest glass factory founded by Anton Wilhelm Kapmeier , which was located in Aabachtal, Westphalia from 1800 to 1903. In 1904, the two businessmen, Julius and Lois Nordheimer, built a new glass factory in Marsberg, which replaced the Fürstenberger forest glass factory. Ultimately in 1935, the glass wholesaler, Heinrich Ritzenhoff, took over management of the company. Over the following decades, an embellishing company for illuminated glass, a subsidiary for brewery glasses and a fully-automatic glass production for drinking glass ensued. In 1974, Grafik Ritzenhoff was founded – a printing company that produced transfers for glass.
A forest glassworks developed into an internationally renowned company.
From 1992 onwards, Ritzenhoff attracted a great deal of attention with its exceptional and colourful glass collections for milk. International artists still use the glasses as a canvas, design special decors and impress design fans all over the globe to this very day. The company sells its products in over 60 countries today.
Ritzenhoff is especially well-known for its milk glass that feature special motifs.
On January 26, 2024 Ritzenhoff filed for insolvency in self-administration. The traditional company reported that this move is part of an extensive strategy for the long-term stabilisation of the company’s business operations and has no effect on the ongoing business processes.
To commemorate its anniversary the glass expert has brought out a merchandising collection, including T-shirts designed exclusively by the artist and illustrator, Doug Hatch, and an art calendar for 2024 that contains Ritzenhoff motifs.
Photo source: Ritzenhoff
