Jan Emens Menneken Of Raeren: Auf der Pfau and Far Off?

In obscurity since its undocumented excavation from 1878-85, the probable workshop site of the master potter Jan Emens Menneken has recently been rediscovered at Raeren-Neudorf, Belgium. An assemblage of signed and dated waster sherds still remaining on site hints at Emens’ activity there from at least 1566 until about 1586/87. The remarkable absence of any wasters assignable to his so-called late work of the period c1588-1593/94, the year of his alleged death at Raeren, is explained by Emens’ possible emigration to the Westerwald region. Supported by archaeological data, art-historical and technological aspects and a reassessment of the archival records, it is suggested that Emens established several consecutive workshops in neighbouring Westerwald villages. Under the name of Johann Mennicken from Raeren, from 1588 until well into the 17th century, he hypothetically became influential in the development of Westerwald-style cobalt-blue stoneware.