History of the Preissler family

The actual founding of the family-owned and family-run company Albin Preissler dates back to the year 1919. The family nickname "Berliner" came into use some five generations earlier, and was used over the many generations. It is still in use today among the people of Seiffen.

Friedrich Fuerchtegott Preissler (called the Berliner), born in 1804 in Heidelberg (near Seiffen, Erzgebirge/Ore Mountains), was a farmer and acquired a small holding in Oberheidelberg. About 160 years ago he decided to expand his profession as an overland freight coachman. He bought four horses, a large freight waggon and drove via Freiberg and Dresden to Berlin. With his son Heinrich, he was on the road for about six weeks at a time. They transported material goods and wooden articles as well as food.

Hugo Albin Preißler

The first leg of their journey ended at the Freiberg Lower Market, not far from the cathedral. In the courtyard of the guesthouse "Goldene Pforte" his horses were watered at the well and fed. At his side sits his loyal companion, his dog, a white Pomeranian. Artist Eichhorn painted their stop. He called his work, an oil painting, "Well-earned rest".
Due to family turns of fate and a waggon and team accident at the "Binge" (mining crater) in Seiffen, he had to give up the freight-coachman business.

His grandson Hugo Albin Preissler, born in 1883 in Heidelberg, learned the wood turning profession in the candelabra factory Zimmermann & Co. in Deutschkatharinenberg. He worked there as a foreman until the start of the first World War.
Due to a war injury, he was no longer able to exercise his profession and thus started his own business with his wife Frieda in 1919. He built himself workbenches at which he was able to do his work in a sitting position. In 1932 he purchased the plot of ground in Heidelberg, at Hauptstrasse 187, which he moved into one year later. In the early years of his commercial activity he mainly produced small wooden containers for the pharmaceutical industry in Hamburg, made photograph stands and other consumer items.

"Verdiente Ruhe" Painting by Eichhorn

The range was expanded by various types of candleholders. His son Albin Rudolph Preissler learned the profession of the wood turner in his father's business, attended the commercial school in Seiffen and in 1949 passed the test to become a master wood turner.

Premises around 1933

In 1953 he took over the handicraft business with his wife Brundhilde. Over the following years he expanded the Erzgebirge arts and crafts segment of the business. Christmas items, particularly Advent candleholders and Christmas tree ornaments, were produced.

Daughter Steffi and her husband Hartmut Bauer have been continuing the business since 1991. The traditional production of Advent candleholders, pyramids, arched candleholders and Christmas tree ornaments continue to be cultivated in shape and color in the third generation. New designs are being realized in our family company using our own design ideas.