Among the many products of the Porzellan-Manufaktur Allach-München GmbH, the equestrian figurines designed by Professor Theodor Kärner occupy a position of particular distinction. The figurine under consideration, bearing Model Number 94, depicts Frederick the Great (Friedrich II of Prussia, r. 1740–1786) on horseback and ranks among the most sought-after and highest-priced objects the manufactory ever produced. This example features a masterful polychrome finish described as being of the finest color-coordinated quality, standing at a height of 28.5 cm.

The Allach Porcelain Manufactory – Founding and SS Acquisition

The Porzellan-Manufaktur Allach-München GmbH was established in 1935 in Allach, near Munich, by industrialist Franz Nagy and porcelain artist Karl Diebitsch as a private enterprise. As early as 1936, the factory was acquired by the SS. Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer-SS, regarded the manufactory as a vehicle for producing works representing an idealized vision of “Germanic culture.” The factory became one of his favorite projects. In 1939, the SS formally expropriated Nagy and Kärner, placing the manufactory under the SS Main Economic and Administrative Office (SS-Wirtschafts-Verwaltungshauptamt).

From 1937 onward, production was increasingly relocated to facilities at the Dachau concentration camp. Beginning in 1940, forced labor from concentration camp prisoners was employed in production — initially 10 to 18 inmates, rising to 93 by October 1943. Between 1935 and 1945, the manufactory produced over 240 different porcelain and ceramic models, ranging from decorative art objects to utilitarian items such as canteen dishes and ointment jars.

Professor Theodor Kärner's Cavalry Series

Professor Theodor Kärner designed a series of Prussian cavalry figurines representing historical military units from the era of Frederick the Great. In addition to the Frederick figurine (Model Number 94), the series encompassed several other models: No. 17 (Seydlitz Cuirassier), No. 29 (Guard Hussar Officer), No. 93 (Guard Hussar), No. 115 (Zieten Hussar), No. 121 (Malachowski Hussar), and No. 163 (Gendarme on Horseback). Kärner also designed ceramic tiles with equestrian motifs, including depictions of Frederick the Great, produced on raw tiles from the Meissener Wandplattenwerke Saxonia GmbH. Two of his Hussar figurines were exhibited at the Great German Art Exhibition in Munich in 1942.

The equestrian figurines were among the rarest and most expensive items in the Allach catalogue. Model Number 94 was available in both white glazed porcelain and painted (polychrome) versions. A notable production detail distinguishes earlier from later colored examples: early pieces featured real gold painting, while wartime production saw gold prohibited and replaced with yellow and ocher colors.

Markings and Identification

The base of the figurine bears the characteristic Allach marks: an embossed octagonal stamp featuring SS runes and the word “Allach,” the artist's signature “Prof. Th. Kärner” (or variations thereof), and the factory model number “94.”

Distribution and Purpose

Allach products were not sold through regular retail channels but rather through dedicated showrooms in Berlin, Posen (Poznań), Warsaw, and Lemberg (Lviv). Two-thirds of Allach production was directed to the SS, Police, and Wehrmacht, with substantial discounts extended to SS members. Himmler personally controlled 45 percent of Allach output and frequently gifted figurines to SS officials and associates. The equestrian figures were marketed to collectors and SS leadership as premium decorative objects.

Frederick the Great as a Historical Symbol

Frederick II of Prussia (1740–1786), universally known as Frederick the Great, was a celebrated Prussian military leader and an enduring symbol of German military tradition. His depiction on horseback within the Allach cavalry series served to glorify Prussian military history and aligned with the manufactory’s broader ideological mission of creating idealized representations of Germanic culture, soldiers, and historical figures as envisioned by Himmler and the SS.

Postwar History and Collector Significance

Production at Allach ceased in 1945 with the fall of Nazi Germany. The factories were shut down and never reopened. Allied forces confiscated or destroyed molds. Some evidence suggests that Franz Nagy may have restarted limited production after the war, as postwar pieces have been discovered bearing an Allach mark featuring the letter “N” for Nagy instead of SS insignia. Theodor Kärner himself reused some Allach molds while working at the Eschenbach porcelain factory in the American-controlled zone of Germany. Between 1947 and 1953, several of his models were reproduced there.

Today, Allach porcelain pieces are rare and controversial collectibles. Museums and collectors treat them as historical evidence of Nazi ideology and forced labor rather than glorified memorabilia. The pieces are studied for their role in Nazi cultural propaganda and as artifacts documenting the exploitation of concentration camp prisoners. Kärner’s equestrian figurines, and particularly the Frederick the Great model with its masterful painted finish, remain among the rarest and most significant objects from this historically burdened production.