BADONVILLER earthenware factory
Théophile FENAL was born in BADONVILLER. Doctor of Law, he will be a lawyer in LUNEVILLE at first.)
He will manage the PEXONNE earthenware factory with his cousin.
In 1898, he carried out his project: to create a new factory in BADONVILLER, 3 kilometers from PEXONNE. This achievement would cause a deep and prolonged crisis in the family.
The first earthenware will bear the TF mark. (Théophile FENAL)
The BADONVILLER earthenware factory is modern. Théophile FENAL will develop an avant-garde social policy there: profit sharing for workers, creation of a Mutual Aid Fund, a Provident Fund, etc. So many new and innovative ideas for this period publicities
In BADONVILLER, the “hand-painted” decor, the production cost of which is relatively high, will be little practiced.
Transfer paper printing from a copper plate will be used, but only allows one color.
At the beginning of the 20th century, airbrush decoration (Vapo) appeared, allowing several colors.
Théophile FENAL died in 1905 and his son Edouard succeeded him.
It will bring a search for quality. It is the era of "Art Nouveau" style toilet services and 74-piece table services with "Champagne" decor.
A fourth chimney rises into the Badonville sky...
Edouard FENAL will further strengthen the social advances initiated by his father.
The first war destroyed three-quarters of the buildings. The end of hostilities saw reconstruction and at the end of 1919, production resumed.
From 1921, business was flourishing. A fifth chimney was built. Social advances were taken up and reinforced. (staff savings could be invested in the company and guaranteed by 4% interest, cooking and sewing classes were provided. Creation of a municipal harmony "La Céramique", etc.)
From 1925 to 1936, despite the recession, the earthenware factory worked at full capacity. They produced toilet services, table services, Art Deco style lunches where we recognize the inspiration of the artist Géo CONDE)
Edouard FENAL led the BADONVILLER earthenware factory to prosperity and, from 1922 to 1925, he carried out a considerable industrial operation: the absorption of the Lunéville-Saint-Clément “KG” factories.
Despite the social advances in force in BADONVILLER, the popular movements of 1936 ended up reaching the factory. Senseless acts were committed: shutdown of the furnaces, kidnapping of local leaders, etc.
Edouard FENAL took these events very badly.
He will announce his decisions: application of all the laws of the Popular Front, but he will withdraw all the other advantages which had been granted until then!
Work will resume, but in BADONVILLER as elsewhere, we will suffer the effects of the crisis: reduction in purchasing power, unemployment.
The earthenware factory survived the Second World War. Closed for a year and a half, production resumed with a reduced workforce and ended up suffering the demands of the Germans who requisitioned three-quarters of the production.
After the war, under the leadership of Gilbert FENAL, son of Edouard, a prosperous period began.
The company's workforce will reach 1,100 people.
The peak of activity was around 1950, when the FENAL group produced 30% of the national earthenware production.
Until the early 1960s, the earthenware factory maintained its potential and an abundant workforce (more than 900 people).
As the decline in turnover continues, we have moved towards the robotization of production. There will be no layoffs, but staff who leave the company will no longer be replaced.
In 1958, the installation of the “MILLER” machine, from the United States, would revolutionize the company.
With a large staff, 20,000 plates could be cast per day. With this machine, supervised by 3 workers, production reached 120,000 plates per day…
