The Porzellanikon is a museum complex dealing with the production of porcelain and ceramics in Selb and Hohenberg an der Eger in the district of Wunsiedel i. Fichtelgebirge (Oberfranken) in Germany.
The European Industrial Museum for Porcelain is located on the former factory premises of Rosenthal AG in Selb-Plößberg (Bavaria).
The museum shows how crockery was made from the porcelain raw materials over the last centuries.
The European Museum of Technical Ceramics was opened on 10 October 2005 as part of Porzellanikon Selb.
Under Frederick the Great the acid resistance of porcelain was used for laboratory and pharmacy equipment.
Today, technical ceramics can also be found in everyday objects such as lighters, mobile phones, espresso machines or cars, since the material is heat-resistant, durable and hard.
The museum shows the history of the company and its products in various themed islands, which began on 30 August 1879 at Schloss Erkersreuth with Philipp Rosenthal's porcelain painting.
In 1917, Rosenthal acquired the porcelain factory founded by Jacob Zeidler in Selb-Plößberg in 1866.
As a manufacturer of living and lifestyle products, Rosenthal used an early connection between art, architecture, design, porcelain and other materials.
The company was able to win internationally renowned artists to design ceramic wares, including Salvador Dalí, Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Niki de Saint Phalle.