Carlo Ginori, the Florentine marquis, opened the manufactory in Sesto Fiorentino near Florence in 1735. The Doccia factory was established without the active support of a local court or ruler, which was unusual in 18th century Europe.
Ginori himself was a trained chemist. During a trip to Vienna in 1737 he managed to hire two specialists. First of them was the painter Carl Wendelin Anreiter von Ziernfeld and second the kiln master Giorgio delle Torri. Ginori soon hired also sculptor Gaspero Bruschi and chemist Jacopo Fanciullacci.
After a few years of experiments, first wares were produced in 1741 but commercial production started around the year 1746.
The manufactory became the international reference point for the creation of sculptures. It was achieved thanks to buying wax models and casts of Florentine baroque sculptors Giovanni Battista Foggini and Massimiliano Soldan. Those items were meant for bronze sculptures but were successfully adapted in Doccia for porcelain sculptures.
The early Doccia porcelain was slightly grayish and its glaze less glossy than production of other 18th century manufacturers.
Carlo Ginori died in 1757. The business was continued by his three sons. During this period the porcelain formula was enriched with tin oxide making it whiter. The factory was run by Ginori family until 1896. The business was merged with Società Ceramica Richard of Milan. Since that date it is known as Richard Ginori.
From 1923 to 1930 artistic director of the factory was Gio Ponti, one of Italy’s most renowned designers and architects. In 1925 at the Universal Exposition in Paris, the manufacture and its artistic director were awarded with the assignment to both of a Grand Prix. By the 1930s, it employed ca. 2000 workers producing luxury porcelain for hotels, liners and even Vatican.
In later years the company tried to turn to broader client base. It wasn't however able to withstand the competition with Asian porcelain makers. Additionally, this strategy caused devaluation of the brand. In 2013, bankrupt company was acquired by Gucci and the artistic direction entrusted to Alessandro Michele. It was renamed Ginori 1735 and started again to deliver luxury porcelain.
