1930s Carstens Uffrecht, Art Deco Bauhaus Pair of Architectural Jug Vases att. Hildegard Delius

This Mid Century statement piece bears a vibrant decor crafted with a glaze characteristic to that of the VEB Haldensleben manufactory. 

The form of this piece is unusual; where you might otherwise find severe straight edges there are gentle curves. In particular, the two 'wings' of the piece that are on either side of the central bar, are a superb canvas for the glaze decor. 

The base glaze is a gunmetal grey that is overlaid with a white mottling. On the exterior, the grey and white mottled glaze graduates into a feature of layered drip glaze that is made up of a myriad of yellow hues; from lemon to dandelion to pineapple. The blend of yellows is interspersed with bolder accents of caramel, dark chocolate, paprika and russet browns. 

The interior decor echoes that of the exterior with the feature drip glaze a highlight on each 'wing', and a variation to the grey and white mottled base glaze that gradually grows paler towards the centre of the piece. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

The company (VEB) Haldensleben is the continuation of 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. Christian and Ernst Carstens founded Carstens Tönnieshof in West Germany. 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 workplces in the GDR. 

VEB Haldensleben mainly concentrated on making vases 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.

CONDITION

Very good. No cracks or scratches, or crazing. There is one very small chip on the base edge and a minor glaze correction on the underside of one wing made during production  - please refer to photos as part of condition report. 

MEASUREMENTS

c. 5.1" /  13 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 11.4" /  29 cm in length (across widest point) x c. 6.7" / 17 cm in width. Base measurements: c. 3.1" / 8 cm x c. 3.9" / 10 cm

Unpackaged weight:  1.3 kg / 1,282 g

NOTES

Planter will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

THE ITEM
I think it's pretty safe to say that this piece is striking. With the peak wave of the 'splash' down to the base measuring around c. 43 cm / 17", it would be difficult for this sculpture to not be a centrepiece.

The amethyst is deep and intense at the base and gradually grows paler as it reaches upward, white ripples reaching outwards towards the end of each wave accentuates the height. This is a wonderfully executed piece of mid-century art glass.

And if you really, really, really wanted to; you could also use it as a bowl. If you really wanted to....

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or scratches. Bearing a few light movement marks on the underside of the base.. Please do refer to photos as they form part of the condition description.

MEASUREMENTS
c. 17" / 43 cm tall by 10.5" / 26 cm diameter, across its widest point.

Unpackaged weight: c. 1.6 kg / 1,606 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

THE ITEM

The blue of this vase ... how to describe? Are you familiar with the Hokusai print 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa'? personally, I feel that if there was ever a glaze that could be attributed to the stylised wave of that print, this would be it - in the vibrancy of the blue and the white that organically branches out over and down the body of the vase.

The detail doesn't end there, towards the base of the vase, you'll see the stronger slices of white, carved lightly into the body, the edges of the white feathering outwards. Resembling a band of feathers or snowflakes circling the base. And last but not least, the triple handle detail, adding another further character to the vase, like a wave cresting over the edge.

The vase is finished with the bubbling of light lava glaze on the internal ring which flows into the black internal glaze.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Kunsttöpferei Unterstab (KTU) - Ralf and Gudrun Unterstab, almost nothing is known about this studio. Gudrun Unterstab (* 1940) is the daughter of the famous potter Albert Kießling. With her husband Ralf (* 1937) she operated from the early 1960s, a ceramic studio in Langenhessen.

Many of their ceramics are attributed to a Kerstin Unterstab , however, this is inaccurate, as there never was a Kerstin Unterstab (at least not in connection with the Unterstab Pottery).

CONDITION
Excellent - no damages or crazing, please see photos as part of the condition report.
Base is inscribed with 'KTU Undestab' studio mark.

MEASUREMENTS
c. 8" / 20 cm tall x c. "3.5 / 9 cm diameter across the base.

Unpackaged weight: c. 0.9 kg / 851 g

NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.

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.

THE ITEM

This piece is from late in the fabulous Atomic Space Age design movement. The cobalt blue resign glass ball is interspersed with clear glass facet circular 'windows' and finished with the brass accents. 

Designed by a young Marita Voigt during the design period where the architecture, industrial design, commercial design, interior design, and fine arts were all heavily influenced by the themes of atomic science, as well as the Space Age. 

This faceted design series was an icon of GDR design by Voigt for Harzkristall in the early Seventies.

A BIT OF HISTORY
In 1946, Sudeten Germans were expelled from their homeland and founded the Hohlglasveredelungsgenossenschaft Wernigerode as a 'resettler cooperative'. 

The glassworks is the only and northernmost glassworks in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany and today, is one of the few glassworks in Germany that produces mouth-blown products. Areas of expertise include vases, glass lights and the production of glass parts and lamps for the preservation of monuments and glass art products in collaboration with renowned artists.

Since 2013, Harzkristall has been part of the Gerhard Bürger Foundation, which promotes the promotion of science and research, art and culture, preservation and preservation of monuments as well as the promotion of education, vocational training and student support.

CONDITION

Excellent, no chips or cracks. There is age-wear that is commensurable with the age of the piece in the form of minute scratches (mainly on the base) and a mild patina on the brass accents. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 3.1" / 8 cm tall x 3.1" /  8 cm in diameter.

Unpackaged weight:  0.2 kg / 151 g

NOTES
Glass will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.