Villeroy & Boch

The Story of Villeroy & Boch

In 1748, in the European village of Audun-le-Tiche, François Boch started a tableware empire that would span more than eight generations of workers, and 250 years of prominence. His simple ceramic plates, cups, pots, and tureens set a standard of excellence for the European market. Four decades later, Nicolas Villeroy set up an earthenware factory in Vauderevange, rivaling Boch's production with its cost-effectiveness. The two companies teamed up in 1836 with hopes of eventually dominating the market. Today Villeroy & Boch is the world's largest producer of ceramics, making everything from egg cups to bathtubs. Its tiles line the Holland Tunnel. Its dinnerware sets the tables of the Pope, crowned royalty, households of the rich and famous, and renowned restaurants around the world. While dinnerware--bone china, porcelain, and earthenware--is still its mainstay, Villeroy & Boch also offers crystal stems and barware, glass drinkware, and stainless-steel flatware, much of which is designed to complement and accent the many beautiful and versatile Villeroy & Boch dinnerware patterns.