In the second half of the nineteenth century, instead of the usual wooden, stone, or brick flooring, ceramic tile flooring became popular. Over time, the colorful squares underfoot and on the facades became an integral part of the interior and exterior of Lviv buildings.
One of the first ceramic enterprises in Galicia was opened in the cities of Brody, Gnizdychiv, Kolomyia and Drohobych. In 1888, Ivan Levinsky founded his first factory on Kryzhova Street (now 58 General Chuprinka Street) under the name “Factory of Tile Furnaces and Building Materials”. This was his first own enterprise, which became an important stage in the development of ceramic production in the region. Three years later, Ivan Levinsky, together with Yulian Zakharevich and Oleksandr Domashevich, founded a new ceramic factory on Yanivska Rogatka called Levynskyi, Zakharevich and Domashevich. In addition, they also opened a sawmill in Klepariv. This factory produced about 10,000 square meters annually. m. of tiles made of artificial stone, which testified to the large-scale production.
Levynskyi’s first factory in Kastelivka initially had only five employees, but by 1894 the number of employees had grown to twenty-five. Thus, Ivan Levynskyi became a key figure in the formation of the ceramic industry in Galicia, leaving a noticeable mark in the history of this region.
During 1898-1939, an enterprise for the production of construction and finishing materials, founded by the Mund brothers – Mauritsii, Yakub and Ignatsii, operated in Lviv. The brothers were active members of the city’s Jewish community. Unfortunately, they suffered the same fate as most Jewish families in Lviv during the Second World War.
The initials of the Mund brothers can be found on various objects, but they are most common on the tiles that cover the walls and floors of Lviv houses. The most striking preserved example of the company’s products is the former Sandel building at the address of the str. Kurbasa, 5, the so-called “Majolica House”, the facade and staircase tiles of which are covered with tile products of the Mund brothers.
Thanks to the variety of manufacturers, several hundred samples of ornamental tiles, both locally produced and imported from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, etc., were concentrated in the houses of Lviv. Thus, a unique collection of Metlakh tiles was created, which has been preserved to this day on a significant scale and should be appreciated.
Sources and literature:
Pavlo Hrankin, Oles Noga, Ceramic Carpets of Lviv Entrances, Articles (1996-2007) – Lviv: Center for Europe, 2010.
Lviv’s Antique Decorative Floor Tiles Source: forgottengalicia
Bracia Mund: How Three Brothers Brought Beauty to Lviv’s Vestibules Source: forgottengalicia
Sofia Lehin, 10 tile manufacturers of prewar Lviv Source: Photos of old Lviv
Andriy ROYUK The regional tile stove factory that defeated time Source:
Photos of old Lviv
Photos: forgottengalicia, Heritage Bureau, Photos of Old Lviv
