Goldscheider Porcelain Manufactory and Majolica Factory (Goldscheidersche Porzellan-Manufactur und Majolica-Fabrik) was established in 1885 in Vienna by Friedrich Goldscheider. The manufactory opened branches in Paris, Leipzig, Berlin and Florence.
In 1920s and 1930s Friedrich's sons Walter and Marcell continued expanding the business. However in 1938 the family had to flee Austria because of the Nazi persecution of the Jews. One of the best known artists working for the factory, Walter Bosse, tried to save it and run under his name. Finally, however, the Nazi officials appointed Josef Schuster from Munich to run the business. Under his management the company was in decline.
Throughout more than fifty years of its exsistence, Goldscheider factory created masterpieces in the styles of historical revivalism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. It became one of the most influential producers of artistic objects made of terracotta, faience and bronze. For this Austrian factory worked such artists as Walter Bosse, Demètre Chiparus, Benno Geiger, Josef Lorenzl, Ida Meisinger, Michael Powolny, Susi Singer, Arthur Strasser.
After leaving Austria in 1938 Walter Goldscheider started a factory in USA (Trenton, New Jersey). In 1950 he returned to Vienna to try to revive the family business but after 3 years he had to give up. His brother Marcell went in turn to UK where he produced in Stoke-on-Trent figurines for Myott and later opened his own studio in Hanley.
The Goldscheider brand was bought by the German company Carstens. In 1953 they founded the subsidiary "Kunstkeramische Manufaktur Goldscheider GmbH", which produced mostly red clay terracotta style figurines and wall masks until 1963.
The last attempt to revive the Goldscheider business was taken by great grandson of Friedrich Goldscheider, Peter. In 1987, Peter Goldscheider and Michael Sommer founded Goldscheider Keramik GmbH. They produced some objects in the business located in Stoob, Austria. Production was finally stopped in 1994.
