Our history:
From the Old Town to the Königsallee
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 Aerial shot of the Königsallee around 1897 |
1820: The company Anton Franz Hohmann is founded in the Old Town.
1851: In honor of the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV., the "Kastanienallee" is renamed "Königsallee".
1884: Hermann Franzen, grandfather of the current company owners, and Eva Faßbender begin their apprenticeship at the A.F. Hohmann porcelain store.
1897: The barracks and the parade ground reaching as far as the Düssel are relocated.
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 Around 1900 | |  | |
1900: Construction takes place on the west side of the Königsallee.
1900: Hermann Franzen and Eva Faßbender marry and purchase the company at which they completed their apprenticeship. The Franzen porcelain store is born – during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
1900: The horse tram on the Kö is replaced by an electric tram.
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1911: Hermann and Eva Franzen purchase the property Königsallee 42 for 210,000 Goldmark. The company has been based here ever since. A further quarter of a million Goldmark are invested in the expansion and restructuring of the property. At this point in time, the Königsallee is still a prestigious residential street with very few shops.
1911: The company Hermann Franzen is already »depot and sales of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin, Meissen, Kopenhagen and Nymphenburg«. They are specialists for »bridal accoutrements and hotel equipment«.
1912: Franzen maintains close business relationships with companies in other European countries: These include Baccarat, Lalique, Emile Gallé and Limoges from France as well as Wedgwood from England. As well as porcelain (including Villeroy & Boch, Rosenthal) and glass, however, the company also sells utility objects such as washing bowls, toothbrush cups and bed pans. The product range also includes pickling jars, receptacles and cover holders.
1915: There are now around 100 shops, businesses and offices on the Königsallee.
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 Franzen family 1926 |
1932: Dr. jur. Hermann Franzen, son of the founder couple, joins the business following completion of his doctorate and practical training in Basel and Paris. In this year, the bronze figurine of the lady playing with a ball by Walter Schott is erected on the Königsallee. Around 1900, this was copied in porcelain by the Meissen manufactory and is part of our anniversary collection.
1944: The house on the Königsallee is destroyed by fire bombs. Only the facade remains.
1948: In the year of the currency reform, the business opens in the house reconstructed under the lead of architect Professor Helmut Hentrich. Sophistication returns to the boulevard.
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 Around 1950 |
1955: The tram on the Königsallee is terminated.
1965: The construction boom on the Königsallee begins, the Kö Center is built in 1967.
1966: The grandson of the founder couple, Hermann Franzen (*1940), joins the company after spending long periods of time in Switzerland and the USA. Since then, the Franzen range has included silverware and silver cutlery, as was usual for the USA at the time.
1982: After marrying Hermann Franzen, Marietta Franzen takes up work in the family company.
1983: The Königsallee undergoes intensive renovations and is made more attractive.
1984: Claus Franzen joins the company following completion of his studies and time spent abroad.
1989: Steffi Franzen begins her training at Franzen; following her studies, she reinforces the family presence in the company.
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 2000 |
2000: Franzen celebrates its 100-year anniversary.
2010: Peter Franzen joins the company following completion of his studies.
2011: Company and family celebrate »100 years of Franzen on the Königsallee«.
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 2011 |
