Emons & Sohne | ES Keramik Foam Lava and Sgraffito Decor Ceramic Bud Vase, 1950s, rare
Regular price£54.00
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THE ITEM This delicious work of mid-century Modernist design is by Emons & Sohne, ES Keramik of Germany.
The simple Solifleur bud vase form is an excellent canvas for the glaze decor. The base glaze is a matte charcoal brown that is visible through Sgrafitto decor that sits on the collar of the vase. The Sgraffito decor is an interlocking of soft lemon sherbert yellow and mint green gloss glaze.
The remainder of the vase is overlaid with the matte stone-coloured and tightly bubbled foam lava and the piece is finished with an accent of the yellow glaze on the interior of the vase.
This piece makes an elegant addition to any lava or drip glaze collection and would suit a room with Vintage, Mid Century or Modernist theme inspired decor.
CONDITION Excellent, no chips, cracks or crazing as might be expected for a piece of this age; there is light use wear on the interior of the vase that is commensurate with the age of the piece - please see photos as part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS c. 6.4" / 16.2 cm tall x c. 1.6" / 4 cm diameter across the base of the vase. Width (across widest point): c. 3.1" / 8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.2 kg / 230 g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY ES Keramik was founded in Rheinbach in 1921 by Josef Emons & Söhne. The studio began producing art ceramics began during the 1950s with Willi Hack as the main designer. Hans Kraemer was also another designer who began working for ES from 1952 until 1968, producing 15-20 designs per year. ES employed around 70 people at its height and was known for their high quality, beautiful glazes.
This sleek and chic work of iconic mid-century Modern art pottery is by influential West German Pottery studio of Ruscha Keramik (1905 - 1996).
The form features gently exaggerated curves inward becoming an excellent canvas for the semi-matte and textured lava glaze with bold, hand-painted curves, round-angled shapes, charming blue and yellow florals. The colour palette is whimsical, carrying echoes of the 1960s-70s Flower Power period during which the piece was created.
The combination of the form, condition, size, and palette makes it a rare find. This work makes it an excellent statement piece for stand-alone display.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece - please see photos as part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with '708 2, Ruscha, Handgemalt (Handmade) BW'.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 2.8" / 7 cm (from base to rim) x c. 12.7" / 32.3 cm in width (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3.9" / 9.9 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.2 kg / 1,190 g
A BIT OF HISTORY Ruscha (established 1906 - 1996) Originally founded in Rheinbach by Georg Schardt, it was known as Klein & Schardt until 1948. Rudolf Schardt would take over the company and rename it to Ruscha, the name created from the first letters of his fore and surname. As Ruscha entered the ceramics boom in the 1950s, the pottery was joined by art pottery director Cili Wörsdörfer who made her handpainted designs for series such as Milano and Zebra wildly popular. Otto Gerharz was the production director, designing innovative glazes such as Vulkano.
Ruscha would later add to its success with Kurt Tschörner joining in the 1960s, designing whimsical and daring forms such as the 313 and 321 jug vase that became and remain sought-after hits.
Other greats who joined Ruscha included Ernst Borens, Hans Welling and Adele Bolz. Unfortunately, the pottery's success came to an end in the 1990s, when it finally closed its doors in 1996, selling its name and many designs to Scheurich who produced vintage-inspired designs under the 'Ruscha Art' brand.
Pair of Kurt Tschörner for Ruscha Keramik, Sculptural Abstract 321 Jug Vases, 1960s-70s, WGP
Regular price£675.00
Save £-675.00
These sleek and chic works of iconic mid-century Modern art pottery are by celebrated and prominent designer Kurt Tschörner (b. 1912 - d. 1987) for the influential West German Pottery studio of Ruscha Keramik (1905 - 1996).
The form features gently exaggerated curves and arches all over, reminiscent of popular works of Italian art potteries such as Bertoncello Ceramiche and Roberto Rigon with echoes of architectural geometricism worked into the design. The form is an excellent canvas for the semi-matte and textured lava glaze with similarly bold, hand-painted curves, delineation, charming florals, and colour palette.
With the seamlessly blended echoes of Italian mid-century art pottery design and earlier Art Deco and Picasso-Cubist-esque influences to the form, it's easy to see why this form is sought after.
The combination of the form, condition, sizes, and palette makes this duo an even rarer find. These statement works are excellent for stand-alone display.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the bases that is commensurable with the age of the pieces - please see photos as part of the condition report. The underside of the bases are signed - the taller: '321/4, Ruscha, Handgemalt (Handmade) M' and the smaller '321/3, Ruscha, Handgemalt (Handmade) Ed'.
MEASUREMENTS 321/4 Height: c. 9.6" / 24.3 cm (from base to rim) x c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm in length (across longest point). Width: c. 4.3" / 11 cm. Base measurements: c. 3.5" / 9 cm.
321/3 Height: c. 7.9" / 20 cm (from base to rim) x c. 5.1" / 13 cm in length (across longest point). Width: c. 3.9" / 10 cm. Base measurements: c. 2.9" / 7.3 cm. Unpackaged weight [Pair]: c. 1.2 kg / 1,215 g
A BIT OF HISTORY Ruscha (established 1906 - 1996) Originally founded in Rheinbach by Georg Schardt, it was known as Klein & Schardt until 1948. Rudolf Schardt would take over the company and rename it to Ruscha, the name created from the first letters of his fore and surname. As Ruscha entered the ceramics boom in the 1950s, the pottery was joined by art pottery director Cili Wörsdörfer who made her handpainted designs for series such as Milano and Zebra wildly popular. Otto Gerharz was the production director, designing innovative glazes such as Vulkano.
Ruscha would later add to its success with Kurt Tschörner joining in the 1960s, designing whimsical and daring forms such as the 313 and 321 jug vase that became and remain sought-after hits.
Other greats who joined Ruscha included Ernst Borens, Hans Welling and Adele Bolz. Unfortunately, the pottery's success came to an end in the 1990s, when it finally closed its doors in 1996, selling its name and many designs to Scheurich who produced vintage-inspired designs under the 'Ruscha Art' brand.
This striking work of 1930s Bauhaus Art Deco design is by Carstens Uffrecht Pottery and attributed to the then lead designer Hildegard Delius (b. 1896 - d. 1955).
The geometric Bauhaus influence is very evident in the evenly-arched, stylised architectural form and further accentuated through subtle plays of cross-hatching within the glaze décor. The sumptuous hand-painted glaze is a base of Vanilla cream that is overlaid with a palette of orange shades, including Apricot, Marmalade, Amber, and Ochre, and further elevated through deeper Coffee brown tones.
Whether on display or used around the home, this work is timelessly stylish in design yet also an excellent representation of the Bauhaus Art Deco movement.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips or repairs. There is a single hairline stress crazing that is very faintly visible to the naked eye but commensurable with the age of the piece, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the dish is marked with Carsten Uffrecht's stamp denoting 'DEK18' and model number '444'.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 11.8" / 30 cm in length (across longest point). Width: c. 9.6" / 24.5 cm (across widest point) Base measurements: c." 6.4 / 16.2 cm x c. 5.9" / 15 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.0 kg / 980 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Carstens Uffrecht that was founded in 1845 by Jacob Uffrecht. After the Second World War, the Carstens family lost their ceramics and porcelain factories in East German territory. In 1945, Carstens Uffrecht became the East German vases maker VEB Haldensleben. VEB stands for the German “Volkseigener Betrieb”, meaning a people-owned enterprise and related to state-owned workplaces in the GDR.
Hildegard Delius (1896-1955) and her husband Klaus Delius were the known designers from the mid-1920s to mid-1930s at Carstens Uffrecht, echoing the architectural vision of Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius.
VEB Haldensleben mainly concentrated on making vases of high quality. Like the vases of Strehla, the colours are more subdued than the vases from West Germany. Often there is at least one metallic glaze on the vases. When Germany was reunited in 1990, the former East German factory was again owned by the Carstens family and the name was changed to Carstens Keramik Rheinsberg.
