Steuler Design Keramik | Memphis Style, Striking Postmodern Sliced Conical Vase | 1980s, Rare

THE ITEM
This charming 1970s hand-painted coffee set for twelve is by Winterling Schwarzenbach of Bavaria. 

These high-quality porcelain pieces carry the Mid Century Modernist design influences popular during the time these pieces were made. The shapes of the coffee pot, jug and sugar pot, in particular, are lightly geometric - angular yet curved. The set is glazed with Winterling's Indian blue, lightly dappled glaze, each piece is handpainted with stylised Sunflowers, Tulips and Rosehips patterning. 

Included in the set: 

• 1 Coffee Pot 
• 12 Coffee Cups
• 12 Saucers
• 1 Jug
• 1 Sugar Pot 

CONDITION

Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs, there are mild signs of use wear that is commensurate with the age of the set. Please see photos as they form part of the condition report. 

MEASUREMENTS

• Coffee Pot: c. 7" / 18 cm tall x c.  7.5" / 19 cm wide (handle to spout). Base diameter: c.  3.7" / 9.5 cm
• Coffee Cup: c. 2.8" / 7 cm tall by c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm diameter
• Saucer: c. 0.8" / 2 cm tall by c. 5.1" / 13 cm diameter
• Jug: c. 3.3" / 8.5 cm tall by c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm diameter (at widest point)
• Sugar Pot: c. 2.8" / 7 cm tall by c. 3.6" / 9.2 cm diameter (at widest point)

Unpackaged weight (full set): c. 3.4 kg / 3,435 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY 
The company was founded in 1907 by seven Winterling brothers in Röslau, Bavaria and was originally named Gebrüder Winterling O.H.G.

In the space of 10 years, the company would go on to take over Oscar Schaller porcelain factory located in Schwarzenbach where they continued to expand their production of high-quality porcelain items. 

In 1950, the company was turned into a joint-stock company as well as starting another factory in Bruchmühlbach, in 1954. Despite its history of success, sadly, Winterling would eventually become bankrupt in 2000.

THE ITEM

This excellent work of Modernist design is by Antje Brüggemann for Rosenthal's 'Studio Line' division of design-orientated creations.  

Brüggemann is a leading German ceramic artist and designed this piece as part of her 'Linear' series in the early 1980s during her collaboration with Rosenthal.

The 80s design influence of distorted geometry is evident in the shape of this piece and also in the dusty-teal blue elements, which are outlined in green.

This stylish piece would suit a room with Minimalist, Modernist or Retro decor themes. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Rosenthal (1879 - present)
The company founder, Philipp Rosenthal, moved his porcelain painting skills from Werl (North Rhine-Westphalia) to Selb in Bavaria, which he industrialised in the castle Erkersreuth with his painting workshop. The company grew from strength to strength over the years, with original pieces designed by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Wilhelm Wagenfeld and Walter Gropius. By 1997, Rosenthal was the market leader for high-quality porcelain and glassware in Germany and was the world market leader in conjunction with Waterford Wedgwood. Rosenthal launched 'Rosenthal Studio Line' to specialise in design-orientated art objects and goods. 

CONDITION
Very Good - no chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild use wear on the interior of the vase and two minor scratches (c. 2 - 4 mm) on one side that is commensurate with the age of the piece - please refer to photos as part of the condition of the report, The base of the vase bears the Rosenthal Studio Line insignia stamp. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 7" /  18 cm tall (from base to rim) x 4.5" / 11.5 cm width. Depth: c. 1.7" / 4.2 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.7 kg / 661 g

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

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

A 1977 limited edition Weihnachten (German tr. 'Christmas Day') wall plate designed by renowned artist Bjorn Wiinblad in his recognised style, dominated by wavy lines, bright colours and romantic worlds. 

The glass dish dips at the centre, creating a circular frame for the featured figures and the outer frame is lightly embossed, raising the painted decor into relief decor effect and making the plate wonderfully tactile. 

The plate is adorned with gold, white and blue jewel-like coloured decor with the central figures being dressed in accents similar to characters from Wiinblad's popular Aladdin and 1001 Nights series. 

CONDITION

Excellent, no chips or cracks. Decor is printed with 'Weihnachten 1977' and Wiinblads signature as part of the surface design. The reverse of the plate is printed with Rosenthal Studio Line's limited edition stamp and the number '7'. Plate has original fitting of a wall hook. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 0.8" /  2 cm tall  x 11.4" /  28.9 cm in diameter.

Unpackaged weight: 1.4 kg / 1,393 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Bjørn Wiinblad (b. 1918 d. 2006) was a Danish painter, designer and artist in ceramics, silver, bronze, textiles, and graphics. Aged 17, he began an apprenticeship as a typographer, but soon realised that his heart was set on following the path of an artist and would go on from his beginnings as an illustrator to become a cosmopolitan multi-artist.

His work has been shown widely in Europe, in the United States of America first in 1954 and in Japan, Australia and Canada in 1968. Wiinblad was named Man of the Year in New York in 1985 and was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s Cultural Prize of 1995.

In 1957, Wiinblad was appointed Chief Designer for the famous German brand Rosenthal, a position that enhanced his international reputation even further.

Even though Bjørn Wiinblad was Copenhagen born and bred, and had trained in Copenhagen, his style was anything but classic Danish, and while functionalism ruled the roost in Denmark, Bjørn Wiinblad went the other way, espousing a style dominated by wavy lines, bright colours and romantic worlds.

Characteristics of Wiinblad's work include whimsical round-faced people, dressed in vaguely 19th-century costume. They are often surrounded by natural elements: twining vines, floral wreaths, and fantastical trees. When Wiinblad employed colour, he did so with great assurance. His colours are saturated and strong—sometimes almost psychedelic—and are often supplemented with metallic gold or silver.

Women were a consistent theme in the Wiinblad universe, displaying a wide range of emotional nuances, and their eyes – specifically, their gaze – were always very special. As a rule, they looked out with openness and curiosity – but with traces of dejection, melancholy and mysticism.

The eyes meant something very special to Wiinblad, so even though he employed a large number of people, he always painted the eyes himself and thus, the women were quoted to be intensely 'Wiinbladian'. 

THE ITEM

Presenting a excellent piece of Art Nouveau influenced design. 

The funnel form vase bears the Papaver poppy design, which was popular during the height of the Art Nouveau movement. There are two open poppies wrapping round the body of the vase, a bud and a smaller half open poppy with unfurling leaves complimenting the blooms. The decor has been crafted in raised relief, making this piece very tactile. 

A elegant piece suited to a room with Art Nouveau, Vintage / Brocante inspired decor. 

A BIT OF HISTORY

Engelbert Kayser (1840-1911) - an art dealer, entrepreneur, and ambitious artist - founded the trademark of the same name in 1894. Kayserzinn produced high-quality tin and pewter items in Jugendstil Art Nouveau style until 1920.

Kayserzinn's main designer and artistic director was Hugo Leven (1874-1956), a name to be compared with that of Liberty's main pewter designer, Archibald Knox. Leven was very successful as a designer, participating in world exhibitions and strongly influencing the German Jugendstil style with his designs. 

CONDITION
Very good.  No damage, however, there is age-wear - wear which is commensurable with the age of the piece, please see photos as part of condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 8" / 20 cm by c. 4.3" /  11 cm (rim diameter) 

Base diameter: c. 2.8" / 7 cm 

Unpackaged weight: c. 0.8 kg / 781 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.