This piece of 1960’s Italian pottery has the reassuring sensibility of the Art Deco which preceded it. First the spherical ceramic form was cast, fired, and then painted with its soft blue glaze. After that it was placed atop a revolving surface and lines of colored glazes were applied to the spinning orb. Made in […]
I buy plenty of Mid-Century art pottery—ceramics made in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. It was a period when ceramics production boomed in Germany, Italy and Japan. After World War II, the “victor” countries (the U.S., England and France) found that their rising wages made it hard for high-production ceramics workshops to compete with the […]
Though I’ve bought and sold all types of matte white pottery over the years, I have always been especially fond of those pieces made by Roseville (Ohio, USA). Their sculpted shapes are beautiful, the ceramic forms are always nicely-finished, and the matte white glaze has a soft, beautifully-tactile quality to it. The collection above was […]
Over the past several months, I’ve been building a nice collection of ceramics glazed in what might be described as “warm neutrals”—soft browns, warm whites and gentle greys. Rich in texture, some are reminiscent of clouds, some of coral, and some the craters on the Moon. They are Modernist without being cold, sterile or self-important. […]
And you thought Mad Men was over! Not quite yet. Shown above, a Danish Modern stoneware plaque by sculptor Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. Made in 1968, it was intended as a decorative object to hang upon the wall or it could be permanently mounted within a larger ceramics installation. On the plaque, two playful bucks cavort amidst a […]
Like that silly internet phenomenon which asked, “What color is this dress?”, this newly-acquired West German floor vase has proved to be a bit of a Rorschach Test in the shop. While I see fluffy clouds against a wonderful (sky) blue sky, others on staff insist that the glaze portrays courses of waves traveling toward […]
Rosenthal-Netter was an American import company who, after World War II, brought to America boatloads of tasteful Modernist decorative objects from Italy—principally ceramics. Rosenthal-Netter was in direct competition with Raymor, another successful American importer and both used some of the same Italian designers (for example, Aldo Londi) and factories (for example, Bitossi) to produce their […]
When we think of Art Nouveau, we often think of whiplash curves, stylized floral motifs and a refinement of craftsmanship—lightness, elegance, delicacy. But the Art Nouveau also had a more rustic—more brutish—offshoot. Like the Belgian Art Nouveau pitcher, shown above, this heavier aesthetic is seen most often in architecture (and especially its tile or ceramic […]
Staring-out from this piece of 1970’s Modernist ceramics is an alligator’s unblinking eye—the work of world-famous Ecuadorian artist Eduardo Vega. Born in Cuenca, Ecuador in 1938, Vega was steeped in his country’s long ceramics-making culture well before studying art in Spain and France. After returning to his home country in the 1960’s, he was commissioned […]
The Medieval Germans invented salt glazing by accident—when a ceramics-maker ran out of fuel for his kiln (in mid-firing) and all he could find (quickly) were some broken pickle barrels to chop-up and throw into the kiln. Apparently, the salt from the barrel’s wood reacted with the clay being fired, resulting in the lightly textured […]
When I think of Ruscha West German Modernist art pottery, I usually think of vases—vases with wonderful dripping, complex and organic glazes. Until I found the plaque above, which shakes-up my concept of Ruscha. Here sea grasses sway, anchored in a bed of blooming anemones, while bubbles bobble to the surface. Brown lobes of coral […]
Otto Gerharz was a chemist and glaze master who worked for Ruscha Keramik. In 1951, he developed Ruscha’s famous “Vulcano” glaze, most frequently found in a burnt orange color. Along with Kurt Tschorner (who designed many of the company’s shapes), Gerharz helped make Ruscha one of the better, cutting edge production potteries of the German […]
Within my diverse matte white pottery collection, my perennial favorites are always those made by Roseville. The shapes are beautifully designed and the pieces are always nicely-cast. Most impressively, the satiny matte white glazing is always so satisfying—both to view and to hold. And while the shapes were also glazed in other color ways, I […]
Let’s conclude our parade of European art pottery with something extra-special. From Belgium, during the period which straddles both the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, comes this superb salt glazed vase by Roger Guerin with a custom-wrought iron mounting, quite probably by François Carion. Salt glazing, which was developed in Germany during the Medieval […]
I buy a fair bit of early 20th Century Dutch ceramics, especially from the Gouda region of the Netherlands. And, every now and then, I come across a piece that is just a little different—such as the ceramic covered jar, pictured above. Made in the 1910’s or 1920’s—in that nexus of the Art Nouveau and […]
At first glance, I skipped over this piece—what I thought was “just another dowdy, brown jug.” But as I purchased other pieces from the collector, my eye kept wandering-back to the dowdy, brown jug. And slowly, the jug began to reveal its charms. I began to warm to its graceful (dare I say sensuous?) shape. […]
The ultramarine blue glazing fairly vibrates with richness on this Scheurich West German “floor vase” from the 1960’s or 1970’s. The name “ultramarine” comes from the Latin “ultra marinus” which means “beyond the sea”—since the original ultramarine pigment came from grinding lapis lazuli brought from Afghanistan (very far away). Because of the rarity of the precious […]
Among my new favorites is this little grouping of Italian Modernist hand-made ceramics by Fratelli Fanciulacci in Florence. The pieces are clearly hand-built, given the size and weight variation from piece to piece—not to mention the wonderful randomness which comes from this type of labor-intensive, hand-incised decoration. Unfortunately, the company was wiped-out with the flooding […]
Mayan calendar? Pueblo target? Radioactivity warning? No, no and no. Shown above, a piece of Italian Modernist ceramics from the 1960’s with a hand-painted white graphic. The perfect shape of the vase is finished with an interestingly modest, roughly-textured glaze, then finished with white hand-painting—not unlike a super-hip paleolithic cave decoration. It would look equally […]
Like yesterday’s Czech ceramics, made under the influence of the Viennese Secessionist movement, the pair above are also from somewhere within the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, c. 1910. A deep cobalt blue glaze is subtly “punctuated” with metallic bronze glazing, creating an organic, almost botanical sculptural effect. Please click on the photo above to learn more […]
Secessionism was the Austro-Hungarian variant on the Art Nouveau movement—a turn-of-the-century design aesthetic which developed in many (mostly Western) countries and cultures. The French had Art Nouveau, the English had Arts & Crafts, the Germans had Jugendstil and the Austro-Hungarians had Secessionism. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was vast—and (circa 1900) Vienna was its glittering seat-of-power. Although […]
While there are many things I like to buy, two things make me extra-happy: nice pieces of pottery with earthy, crusty, red glazing and lidded vessels, suitable for holding one’s precious possessions. The piece above ticks both of these boxes. Made by Ruscha (West Germany) in the 1960’s, there’s a satisfying voluptuousness to the piece—with […]
Artists and designers are always looking for inspiration. Oftentimes, aesthetic trends might correlate to the day’s news or to discoveries far-removed from the world of interior design trends. Examples include the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922 which encouraged an Egyptian Revival in the Art Deco movement of the next two decades. Or the […]
Recently, we’ve received several large (and diverse) shipments of European art pottery and, over the next several days, we’d like to share some of the most interesting acquisitions with you. Shown above, a collection of “sea tones”—aqua, seafoam, sapphire, even “whitecap.” And not only are the shapes and colors varied, so are the textures and […]
We’ve just received several large shipments of European art pottery from various points on The Continent. Over the next several days, we’ll be featuring a few of the highlights—pieces which exhibit the range of our new acquisitions. Please peruse our on-line shop (where some of them have been already been listed) or come into the […]
Made in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the American Modernist pottery shown above was made by Haeger in East Dundee, Illinois. German immigrant David Haeger founded the company in 1871—45 miles from Chicago—on the bank of the Fox River (a rich source of the needed clay). Initially, the company made bricks. In a twist of fate—in […]
Here’s another color grouping of vintage art pottery—”earth tones”—from Italy, America and West Germany. Shown at center, a hand-painted two-handled Italian pot by Raymor. Raymor was the trade name of a larger American company which imported Mid-Century decorative pieces from Europe—much of it Italian ceramics. Raymor cleverly (and accurately) assessed the tastes of the […]
Last summer I visited Crete, which is now part of Greece, and spent a day exploring the ruined Palace of Knossos and the archeological museum which holds many of its artifacts. Thus it was with great excitement that I first encountered the vase above. Though the vase is Belgian Neo-Classical Art Deco (c. 1930), its […]
Come into the shop to see this sweet little pair of hand-painted ceramic chickens—a rooster and a hen. They’re made in Southern California (where they are cast in vintage molds), and, while they aren’t antiques, they have a wonderful old-time coloration to them. See new merchandise first! Follow us on Instagram: […]
Under the spreading canopy of a copper and mica table lamp, a collection of orange mid-century pottery. Orange is but one of many “color sections” in the shop—each section filled with handsome art pottery from the Late-Nineteenth through the Mid-Twentieth Centuries. Please come into the shop to see our vast collection of art pottery or […]
Another great gift idea for a wonderful mother is a nice piece of vintage art pottery—something pretty or something useful or both! Of course, a nice ceramic bowl or vase looks great brimming with cut blossoms. But, even when it’s empty, a beautiful piece of artfully-crafted pottery is a reminder of your kindness (and good […]
Another wonderful Mother’s Day gift—one that’s pretty, useful and bright. It has had a long and interesting journey and it still looks great! In the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, department stores were the premier shopping venues in American cities, East to West. The very best department stores became the taste-makers for the carriage trade—and for […]
Let’s end our showcase of recently-acquired European art pottery with this handsome piece by Bay, West Germany. For me it evokes a perfected underwater scene—perhaps like a stylized background found in an animated Disney film. Scrolling latticework reminds me of a screened wall within a placid, underwater palace; flowering ropes of seaweed sway in the […]
We hop back to West Germany, circa 1970, where we discover this intriguing ceramic jug. A strong design—including a heavy strap handle—is finished with an unexpected two-part glaze of cornflower blue and mossy green. The handsome matte finish is reminiscent of some British glazes of the 1930’s and 1940’s. It was made by Karlsruhe in […]
Now a piece from England: a Pilkington Royal Lancastrian art pottery vase from the 1920’s or 1930’s. With its vertically-ribbed, gourd-like form, it straddles both the Arts & Crafts and Art Deco movements. And the curdled citrus glazing evokes lemons, oranges and tangerines. Its nice size, handsome form and bold coloration make it a real […]
It’s not a shipment from Europe if it doesn’t have at least one piece of red pottery in it. And here it is: a red and black glazed pot by Bay, West Germany. Little squiggles provide surface decoration and texture—not to mention a ceramic topography resistant to the dominant red glaze. Modernism meets Folk Art […]
When I was a boy, I read (and was captivated by) a book by Eleanor Cameron titled The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. Published in 1954, it followed the adventures of two California boys who responded to a mysterious classified ad in the newspaper. The boys built a rocketship (as the ad requested) and […]
We continue our parade of newly-received European art pottery with another Scandinavian participant, Jørgen Mogensen. He was born in Denmark in 1927 and began his ceramics career (after art school) as an apprentice at Royal Copenhagen in 1949. He worked with many of the Danish greats: Knud Kyhn, Axel Salto, Gerd Bogelund and Nils Thorsson […]
When I first saw this East German pitcher by Strehla, my mind went immediately to Pablo Picasso’s 1905 painting “Family of Saltimbanques” (in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC). The hand-painted cubist, harlequin pattern would have made a perfect costume for one of Picasso’s sad circus performers. There were only two problems: by […]
While this piece tempts me to reference “Under the Tuscan Sun,” it’s probably a bit more Italian Mediterranean Coastal than Florentine Hill Country. Furthermore, it probably looks more like Jupiter than it does the Sun. None of this matters; this 1960’s Italian glazed ceramic sphere transports me to a sun-baked Italian villa—where I’d happily spend […]
Today we travel to Denmark, where the handsome piece above was crafted. The glazing was created by (Swede) Nils Thorsson, one of the most prolific designers at Royal Copenhagen. He began his career with the company at 13 years old, even before going to art school. For many years, Thorsson served as Artistic Director for […]
This week we’re sharing selected pieces of European art pottery, recently received at LEO Design. The piece above, made by Carstens in the 1960’s or 1970’s, has an otherworldly, “alien” sensibility to it. “Moon craters” seem to rise from the chalky-white surface of the vase. It’s a wonderful example of form and color coming-together to […]
“Studio” art pottery is a hazy term, sometimes used to embellish the description of a ceramics piece which cannot be more-precisely identified. Small workshops—indeed, individual potters—sometimes made beautiful and wonderfully inventive pieces, which some might consider a step up from the more-common, mass-produced wares. And, in some cases, large manufacturers would foster a “studio line” […]
We’ve just received several large shipments of art pottery from Europe—England, The Netherlands, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy and Eastern Europe. Over the next dozen days, we’ll be sharing selected pieces with you. You may also visit our Instagram account (“leodesignhandsomegifts”) or peruse our on-line shop where some of the pieces have already been listed. We start […]
Though this pair of West German urns are from the Mid-Twentieth Century, their stylish sculpting references Ancient Greek ceramics design—and their metallic black glazing is reminiscent of basalt. They would provide the perfect accent upon many a mantelpiece—whether Industrial, Modernist, Traditional or Neoclassical. They’d also make a wonderfully handsome pair of lamps. Please come into […]
The Stangl Pottery, in Flemington, New Jersey, traces its origin to the Hill Pottery company, founded in 1814. Hill Pottery, like many early ceramics manufacturers, made “utility wares”: crocks, water coolers, sewer pipes. Hill Pottery eventually became Fulper Pottery, an “artistic ceramics” manufacturer, and it hired “ceramics engineer” Johann Martin Stangl to develop interesting new […]
This week we’ve been sharing selected pieces from our recent shipment of European art pottery, now in-store at LEO Design. Let’s end the parade with something a little different: a stoneware plate by Giefer-Bahn with an incised decoration and a hand-painted salt glaze finish. Geifer-Bahn was founded in 1947 by Klothilde Giefer-Bahn, then a newly […]
While I don’t know much about this bowl, I do know that I like it. The contrast of a shiny “eggy” amber interior against the flat, earthy, gunmetal exterior makes for a handsome presentation. The hand-impressed ovals of criss-crossing add a folk art flavoring. And the variegated, lightly-crazed interior glaze reminds me of a Van Gogh […]
A classic (and timeless) two-handled urn is first finished with a dark brown underglaze, then overglazed with “blocks” of dripping white finish. The shape alone makes a strong impact—which is only intensified by the bold coloration. Made by Carstens Tönnieshof (West Germany) in the 1960’s or 1970’s. Please come into the shop to see […]
I’m always on the hunt for green art pottery—especially, mossy, earthy (even muddy) greens. When I find such a glaze on a piece of West German pottery (which is rare), I’m all the more thrilled, for it was the brightly-hued color tones which ruled the Mid-Century day. The piece above was made by Van Daalen, […]
At first glance, one might think the little ceramic pitcher above is rather unimpressive—even boring, perhaps. But, look closely, and one can see the depth and complexity of the drip glazing—and coloration which reminds me of the planet Mercury. Even the shape is perfect and it feels so nice in the hands. It was made […]
This week we’re sharing some of our just-acquired European art pottery, now in-store at LEO Design. The examples above are Italian Modernist ceramics made in Florence by Fratelli Fanciulacci (c. 1960’s). The firm was founded in 1862 and was considered one of the better post-war art potteries in Europe. Fratelli Fanciulacci was devastated by the […]
Carstens was not the largest West German ceramics producer but it did a good job of bringing-in design talent to keep the product fresh and ahead of the competition. One such assignment was given to Gerda Heuckeroth, a woman who was given free-range within one division of the company. She experimented with shapes, naturally, but […]
I just love this vase! Strong red glazing—on a shapely and interesting form—is embellished with hand-piped “squiggles.” It makes for a piece that’s both handsome and fun! Made by Dümler and Brieden (West Germany) in the 1960’s or 1970’s, it looks equally good within a collection or standing alone. Please click on the photo above […]
It’s a great day for the Irish! And the Italians, too! Modernism meets the ancient on this hand-crafted stoneware pitcher by Bitossi. Chunky, textured clay is formed into the classic (and timeless) shape of an ancient Etruscan jug—then hand-incised and painted with fresh, modern colors. It’s one of many new pieces of European art pottery, […]
We’ve just received another large shipment—mostly art pottery—this time from Continental Europe. Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing with you select pieces from this newly-acquired collection. Shown above, a most-handsome piece by Steuler. A “foamy” highly-textured light blue glaze drips down over a metallic gunmetal underglaze. Founded in 1917, Steuler operated in the […]
As in “Sing a Song of Sixpence,” a ring of bas relief blackbirds encircle this Danish Modern bowl by Marianne Starck for Michael Anderson. The deeply-carved creatures “pop” crisply from the outer walls of this golden stoneware bowl—a handsome and light-hearted addition to any dining table, sideboard or coffee table. Please click on the photo […]
With the winter’s cold, in comes this trio of playful Danish bears. Designed by sculptor Knud Kyhn and made by Royal Copenhagen in the 1970’s, they have taken-up residence with our large collection of mid-century stoneware bears. Please come by to see them and their case-mates here at LEO Design. See new […]
We’ll end our “Week of the Monkey” with this simian fellow—tense with anticipation, wound-up and ready to spring! He was made in 1959 by artist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. He’d bring a good deal of coiled energy to your bookshelf, mantelpiece or coffee table. Please click on the photo above to learn more about […]
Here’s a super monkey for the Year of the Fire Monkey. Made in the 1920’s by Danish ceramicist Knud Kyhn, it is impressive in size, style and artistic impact—certainly a “statement piece” in any interior design setting. Please click on the photo above to learn more about him or come into the shop to see […]
Since we’ve just started the Year of the Monkey, why not make it the Week of the Monkey? Over the next few days, we’ll share a few of our interesting primate offerings from the shop. Shown above, a happy chimp, arms raised in victory. Modeled by ceramicist Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen and produced in […]
We may have waited a while for it, but winter is finally here. How timely, then, this new acquisition: a Danish Modern vase by Johanne Gerber for Royal Copenhagen. Barren branches are silhouetted against a pale sky—while blue flowers (or are they snowflakes?) fall in and around them. This good-sized, flask-form vase would look equally […]
Palmettes are a stylized graphic representation of a splayed palm frond. They were first used decoratively by the Ancient Egyptians, followed by the Assyrians, Greeks, Etruscans—and, somewhat recently, in Western Art Deco. In 19th Century Victorian England, palmettes (still popular) were called the “Anthemion Motif” (from the Ancient Greek term for “flower”)—and were sometimes interspersed […]
The soft spring colors of these two ceramic birds—mother and chick—have alighted just as winter’s snow begins to fall! Nevertheless, they’ll be happy (and safe) ’til Spring. The pair was made in the 1960’s by Artist Erik Engqvist for Swedish ceramics workshop Jie Gantofta. “Jie” was the nickname of John Ewert Johnson and he founded […]
Classical? Art Deco? Nouveau? Yes, yes and yes. An ivory-glazed classical urn, made in the Art Deco Thirties, is finished with Art Nouveau handles. It makes for a handsome, adaptable and useful decorative accent—either alone or within a larger collection of art pottery. Made by Roseville in Roseville, Ohio. Please come into the shop to […]
Paul Dresler is considered one of the most important ceramicists between the wars. He was born in Siegen, Germany in 1879 and, as a boy, planned to be a painter. On a visit to Munich in 1910, Dresler saw an exhibit of Islamic ceramics—an experience which proved to be a turning-point in the artist’s life. […]
Another cheery “bauble”—nice at Christmas or any time. In 1909, German tinsmith Johann Übelacker opened a pewter-smithing workshop in Ransbach-Baumbach (half-way between Frankfurt and Cologne). Johann began experimenting with mounting pewter upon ceramic forms—as was done with traditional German beer steins—and he enjoyed some success. After World War II, Übelacker Keramic was well-positioned to exploit […]
While it’s not an ornament—and not strictly “Christmassy”—the Italian vase above, made by Fratelli Fanciullacci, is a bauble of good Holiday cheer. In 1862, Raphael Fanciullacci opened a ceramics workshop in Florence where he made kitchenware and other utilitarian tableware. Business grew, Raphael branched into more aesthetic, decorative pieces, and, before long, his son (and […]
Here’s another monumental piece (standing 15″ tall), also made by Gerda Heuckeroth for Carstens of Tönnieshof. It is one piece of an impressive New York collection, just acquired by LEO Design. Carstens was founded in 1945, and by the early 1960’s it was a very large, very high-volume manufacturer (the second biggest in West Germany […]
This week we share selections from a newly-arrived collection, purchased from an accomplished New York collector. Pictured above, a grouping of four “abstract tribal” pieces, made by Carstens for their upscale Atelier line in Freden an der Leine, West Germany ($245 – $375). In a rather tongue-in-cheek fashion, the ceramicist captures the goofy seriousness of 1970’s Modernist […]
The ceramics workshop Silberdistel—named after the silver thistle found in the Swiss and Austrian Alps—was founded by Johann and Grete Breu, in 1947. The workshop was located in Gevelsberg, in the West of Germany, north of Cologne. Although well-timed for growth just before the big West German ceramics boom of the 1950’s through 1970’s, Silberdistel […]
Today we share another new acquisition, part of an impressive private collection of art pottery recently purchased by LEO Design. Shown above, a piece of studio pottery crafted by German ceramicist Wendelin Stahl. Stahl was born in 1922 to a family of ceramic masters including his father and older brother, Rudi Stahl. From 1938 to […]
LEO Design has just purchased an impressive collection of art pottery from a New York collector (and customer of ours). Over the next five days, we’ll be showing selected pieces from this exciting acquisition. Please come into the shop to see the full group—and the rest of our large collection of art pottery from the […]
Let’s end our parade of Blue French Pottery with the Art Nouveau piece, shown above, made by Pierrefonds at the turn-of-the-century. This piece exhibits the entirely random and organic possibilities of glaze crystallization—a naturalism well-suited to the Art Nouveau. And, speaking of Naturalism, to my eye there’s something rather aqueous—oceanic—about this piece. Whether it’s the […]
Reminiscent of a scene from Jules Verne, this pair of French Art Nouveau “Rocketship” vases was made around 1905 by Antoine Gustave de Bruyn et Fils. “Gustave” (as he was known) was born on 9 December 1838 in Leuven, Belgium. Both his father and grandfather had been potters before him. In 1864, he opened a […]
We continue our presentation of Blue French pottery with this handsome piece from the Art Deco Twenties. The stepped neck and little handles are pure Deco. Meanwhile, the unbridled, seemingly-random dripping glaze is classic Art Nouveau. This vase is a successful melding of Art Deco’s precision and structure and Art Nouveau’s organic whimsy. However you see it, […]
After yesterday’s journal entry about American artist Charles Jasper McLaughlin—who studied and painted in Art Nouveau France—I’m inspired to share, over the next few days, a handful of French Art Nouveau ceramic works (all blue), now in-store at LEO Design. Some were (possibly) crafted during the time McLaughlin was studying in France. First up: a […]
Charles Jasper McLaughlin was born in Covington, Kentucky on 6 June 1888. He studied at the Cincinnati Art Academy in 1905 and later at the Sorbonne in Paris where he trained in painting frescoes and landscapes. For two summers, he studied architecture at Fontainebleau, outside of Paris. Back in America, McLaughlin worked at Rookwood from […]
The Roseville Pottery Company was founded in Roseville, Ohio in 1890 and (initially) produced a limited range of stoneware “utility” goods: flower pots, umbrella stands, cuspidors and the like. Within a few years, enjoying strong sales, Roseville expanded and eventually bought the Clark Stoneware Company in Zanesville, Ohio where they re-located their headquarters. By 1900, […]
“Salt Glazing” was developed in 13th century Germany—probably by accident. Historians speculate that these early potters collected salty driftwood or the scrap wood from brining barrels for use in their kilns. And a rather interesting result occurred: the pottery developed a thick, translucent and textured glaze which proved highly-durable—especially for jugs, crocks and other utilityware. […]
I do not know much about the ceramics piece pictured above or Sawa, the workshop that made it. Nevertheless, I do appreciate its design integrity and the handwork required to produce it. First, the body of the vessel was cast in terra-cotta and allowed to harden. Next, a cast terra-cotta handle was attached. Then a […]
In the year 1832, “Prince Adolph of Ysenburg & Bündingen of Isenburg-Wächtersbach” (whew!) founded a ceramics workshop within his family’s principality. Wächtersbach Keramik (sometimes spelled “Waechtersbach” by English speakers) continues to this day, making a wide range of objects, both decorative and utilitarian. In the late Nineteenth Century, Wächtersbach employed several notable designers including Joseph […]
We’ve just received a shipment of vintage ceramics from Europe, including the large “grasshopper green” vase shown above. Its inspiration is classic Chinese—based on a humble, utilitarian vessel which might have held water, vinegar or fermented duck eggs. Even the string netting, which once encircled the original, are represented in a stylized fashion. Please click […]
Over the past few months, I’ve found (and acquired) a couple of European Modernist ceramic pieces which reminded me—at least vaguely—of clouds. They weren’t very jolly; indeed, they were rather drab. Nevertheless, I liked them and quickly gave them pride-of-place in my shop—but not for long. Before I knew it, they were picked-up, purchased, and […]
Italian Modernism—with a rustic, hand-crafted flair. After the vase was formed (but before the clay hardened), a wooden stylus was used to make the pattern of irregular impressions in the clay. Both a dark brown and then a red glaze was applied—creating a look reminiscent of a strawberry. Please come into the shop to see […]
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 […]
Danish ceramicist Jens Michael Andersen opened his pottery workshop on the little island of Bornholm, off the coast of Denmark, in the 1890’s. He (and his four sons) won recognition and awards at ceramics expositions throughout Europe. Their shopmark, a chevron with three parallel herrings, was adapted from the town crest of Rønne, home town […]
We welcome October with one of the month’s two gemstones: the tourmaline*. Tourmalines, rich in aluminum, magnesium, sodium, lithium and potassium, come in a wide variety of colors including black or multi-colored specimens—like the “Watermelon Tourmaline” which is pink at one end and green at the other. They were mined in Sri Lanka and brought […]
When I first saw this beautiful piece of Gouda Dutch art pottery, I was hesitant. If you know my store, you know it is arranged by color: blue over here, orange over there, green a little further on. Should I buy this piece? Into which section would I place it? Although I couldn’t figure-out the […]
“Marselis” is one of Nils Thorsson’s most famous designs for Aluminia, parent company of the Royal Copenhagen workshops. Designed in the 1950’s, the collection was glazed in several colorways including the deep Mediterranean blue, shown above. The line is distinguished by repetitive, graphic patterning—lines, tear drops, circles, petals—with no additional embellishment. They enjoy a thoroughly […]
While I do buy (and sell) some Modernist ceramics, my heart is still committed to turn-of-the-century design. When I do acquire Mid-Century pieces, however, there are a few guidelines I try to observe. First: the piece should lean back in style, not forward. They should reflect design of the past rather than attempt to break […]
Just in at LEO Design: a new shipment of European art pottery. Shown above, a selection in red, made in West Germany in the 1960’s and 1970’s. I love red pottery and, apparently, so do LEO Design customers—I can’t keep it in-store! Whether I’m selling a large grouping to an interior decorator or selling a […]
Although this piece of art pottery is Dutch, not Middle Eastern, its bold, stylized decoration is reminiscent of an Oriental tapestry. Made in Gouda, east of The Hague, in the 1910’s or 1920’s, it is a great example of European Orientalism. Its rich, autumnal tones and “Klimt-ian” swirls (on the slender neck) make this one […]
From Northern Europe comes this Nils Thorsson “flask”-form bottle (vase), complete with its original ceramic cover. He designed it for Royal Copenhagen (Denmark) in the mid-1960’s and supervised its production in their workshops. This Modernist form is a bit of a Thorsson “signature,” though one rarely finds it with the cover intact. Indeed, not all […]
Here’s another recent acquisition, just-received at LEO Design: a West German Modernist piece by Üblecker, crafted in the 1960’s or 1970’s. Reminiscent of a Louise Nevelson sculpture, the piece is at once very simple and, simultaneously, quite complex. It would add an interesting textural dimension to an existing art pottery collection or look stunning standing on […]
We’ve just received a new shipment of European art pottery including these West German Modernist pieces, shown above. The largest piece, sometimes referred to as a “floor vase,” stands over 18 inches tall and is decorated with a complex layering of multiple glazes. A crusty, brown top glaze has been scraped-away, leaving frenetic, zig-zagging bolts […]
The ancient Mesopotamians of Sumer (which is now modern-day Iraq) invented the Cuneiform system of writing some 5,000 years ago. The name “cuneiform” comes from the Latin “cuneus” (meaning “wedge”) and “forma” (meaning “shape”). Wedge-shaped wooden styluses were used to impress marks into soft clay tablets which were dried (or fired) and, properly stored, would […]
Whether your father likes to hunt game or would rather appreciate animal beauty with his eyes alone, here’s just the Father’s Day gift! Made in mid-century Denmark by sculptor Arne Ingdam, this ceramic stoneware sculpture captures a fourteen-point bull elk in full call. Please come into the shop to see him or click on the […]
Perhaps your father’s interests include the botanical. Shown above, a pair of Czech Art Deco white vases, made in the 1930’s. Bohemia—while it took design cues from larger cultural centers (like Vienna)—was no stranger to good design. From Mucha’s Art Nouveau to Moser’s Art Deco, there’s a rich history of good art, design and craftsmanship […]
Amongst my newest finds is the matte white art pottery, pictured above. Collected during my recent weeklong buying expedition—piece by piece—it pulls-together nicely as a grouping ($75 – $110). Please come into the shop to see them in person—now combined with their previously-acquired relatives.
