Ceramics

Bertoncello Ceramiche D’Arte yellow cube vase, form no. 908, Italy circa 1960’s

November 11, 2012Ceramics60's, art, bertoncello, ceramic, cube, design, hepworth, italian, italy, modernist, moore, op art, pop art, pottery, retro, sculpture, sixties, space age, style, Vase, vintage, yellowafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Stunning and Beautiful Bertoncello vase made by the Italian pottery circa 1960’s / early 1970’s.

An iconic sculptural piece of Retro Italian ceramic design by the famous Bertoncello Ceramiche D’Arte. In their trademark style geometric and monumental and resembling large pebbles / modern architectural forms. With dramatic curves, rounded corners and recessed pierced holes, recalling the works of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.

Very Space Age / Op / Pop Art in form with its curved cuboid form, and sits on two shallow pedestal feet so it floats on a surface. Striking mottled, dripped and streaked glossy yellow and brown tones in the glaze, reminiscent of ‘Fat Lava’ pottery.

Zell Schmider vase no. 3589, form and decor by Anneliese Beckh, West Germany circa 1956

October 25, 2012Ceramics50's, ceramic, cubism, design, fat lava, keramik, mid century, picasso, pottery, retro, schmider, style, Vase, vintage, West German, zellafterglowretro View all 2 comments

This small but perfectly formed Zell Schmider vase may mark a turning point in my collecting. With its beautiful abstract Cubist /Picasso / Corbusier inspired decor, very much in the Mid-century Modern style, interlocking circles with blocks of primary colour on a simple elegant form.

It encapsulates and references the modern design ethos of the era all in just 10cm ! Unlike the later larger ‘Fat Lava’ floor vases (of which I have quite a few) this could happily sit on a bookshelf or mantelpiece, a subtle nod to great 1950’s design. This will inspire me to seek out other similar pieces that display classic style on a miniature scale.

San Marino rock glaze and sgraffito vase and Fratelli Fanciullacci textured striped jug, Italy circa 1960’s

October 3, 2012Ceramics, Collectables1950's, 1960's, alla moda, ceramics, fanciullacci, fat lava, fratelli, glaze, italian, italy, jug, pottery, retro, san marino, sgraffito, studio, Vase, vintageafterglowretro View all 3 comments

These two pieces illustrate how Italian potteries were leading the way with innovative mid-century modern ceramic design. From the San Marino’s trademark foamy white smalto roccia (rock glaze) that predated West German ‘Fat Lava’ styles, combined here with a highly stylised fashionable sgraffito image, evoking the 1960’s Italian glamour sought out by the new influx of foreign tourists. The Fratelli Fanciullacci jug with its heavily textured glaze and hand painted stripes is inspired by the resurgence in studio pottery in Italy at the time, and was important in the revival of craft and the growth of ‘Made in Italy’ after the war.

Vintage Goebel Pottery Hedgehog dish, KZ 98, West Germany circa 1950

September 27, 2012Ceramics, Collectables1950's, animal, dish, figure, goebel, hedgehog, keramik, mid century, porcelain, pottery, retro, vintage, west germanyafterglowretro One comment

Whilst the current trend for vintage West German pottery is almost exclusively aimed at the ‘Fat Lava’ genre and the factories that produced outlandish designs, some great designs can be found from unexpected makers. Such as this lovely Hedgehog dish from Goebel Porzellan, known predominantly for their Hummel figurines! This is a very stylish Mid-century animal figure that would quite happily sit alongside its ‘Fat Lava’ contemporaries in a collection, and would complement the similarly styled Walter Bosse brass figures.

Schlossberg Keramik ‘Staufen’ vase, designed by Ilse Stephan circa 1961

September 19, 2012Ceramics1960's, ceramic, fat lava, keramik, mid century, pottery, retro, schlossberg, Vase, vintage, West Germanafterglowretro View all 2 comments

A stunning mid-century decor ‘Staufen’ by Ilse Stephan for Schlossberg Keramik. Very similar to their classic ‘Kuba’ range, displaying the same primary coloured motifs on a graphic black and white background.

Carstens Tönnieshof vase, no. 652-13 with Space-Age / Atomic era motifs, West Germany circa 1950’s

August 21, 2012Ceramics1950's, 652, atomic, carstens, ceramic, european, fat lava, keramik, mid century, pottery, retro, space age, Vase, vintage, West Germanafterglowretro One comment

Scheurich Keramik ‘Rumtopf’ Rum pot / preserving jar, West Germany circa 1970’s

July 5, 2012Ceramics70's, drink, fat lava, food, jar, keramik, pot, preserve, retro, rum, rumtopf, scheurich, vintage, West Germanafterglowretro Leave a comment

‘Capture Summertime in a Rumpot’ with a fabulous bright and very retro 70’s Scheurich Keramik Rumtopf.

A Stunning piece of West German Pottery that would make a practical and welcome addition to any kitchen, as an attractive feature and for enjoying your favourite Rum soaked fruits during the bleak winter months!