We’ve just received a new shipment of art pottery from Europe—and would like to share a few pieces with you over the next several days. First up: a substantial and tall-ish (12 inch), pumice-glazed vase by Fohr (West Central Germany).
This piece is a bit of a contradiction—which might have been the ceramicist’s intention. Atop a serious, highly-controled and rather severe stele-like form, lies a spontaneous, unbridled and randomly “fluffy” lava-like red and black glaze. Is it a vase or a sculpture? Is it functional or purely decorative? Is it best standing alone or as part of a larger collection? Yes, yes and yes.
The workshop was founded in 1859 by Wilhelm Fohr in Ransbach-Baumbach, Western West Germany. The company had a long history, lasting at least into the 1980’s. During the Modernist period of the 1960’s and 1970’s, Fohr mastered the chunky, pumice-like glaze shown on the piece above. To learn more about this piece, please click on the photo above.
More newly-received ceramics tomorrow.