The union was founded on the initiative of Fritz Zietsch, editor of Die Ameise, the Germany pottery workers' journal.
In 1905, he wrote to unions of pottery workers from around Europe, and those from Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom attended the founding meeting of the international in Berlin later in the year.
[1] The federation's objectives included providing support to affiliates involved in industrial disputes, and improvements in working hours and health and safety.
Initially, it continued to act as a distinct section, holding a conference in Hanley in 1937, with each delegate given a musical mug.
Two years later, the Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish unions attempted to reform the IFPW, but World War II started before anything concrete happened.