1960s-70s Oberhessische Keramik by Walter Becht KG, Sculptural Modernist Powder Blue Chimney Vase

This beautifully elegant work of mid-century Modernist stoneware was designed by Aldo Londi (b. 1911 - d. 2003) for Bitossi Ceramiche. Inspiration for the glaze is said to be taken from the Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Rimini in Italy, and hence the series name Rimini Blu.

The glaze and the series that subsequently grew from it, has become iconic and the most highly collectable of Aldo Londis' work. The form of this particular piece has been crafted with superb almost-sentience and character, the stance captured is one of mid-feint and with curiosity.

Accentuating the work is the geometric and highly tactile 'Sgraffito' decor, with shapes and lines being embossed into the clay during the crafting process. The glaze displays strokes of green, Persiano and deep blue, the great blend of glossy smooth glaze is interspersed with coarse grit in the clay.

CONDITION
Excellent, no chips, cracks or repairs. There is natural wear that is commensurable with age, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the sculpture is marked with the model number '42120/628' and 'ITALY'. 

MEASUREMENTS
c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm tall (arch of back to base) x c. 12.8" / 32.5 cm long (horns to tail) x c. 6" / 15.2 cm wide (across widest point of front hooves). Unpackaged weight: c. 2 kg / 2,115 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (b. 1911 - d. 2003) became the creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, a position he held for more than 50 years. Londi apprenticed in ceramics at the young age of 11 and brought deep expertise in traditional ceramics production to Bitossi.

He’s best known for his 1950s-era collection, this Rimini Blu. This iconic mid-century modern series contains over 150 designs, including bowls, vases, jugs and animal figurines, all glazed in a vibrant blue hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes.

Londi created the first piece glazed in Persiano Blue, the Ball Vase in 1955. Shortly after 1959, he began to create more pieces in this proprietary glaze. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted and expressive works into the modernist design conversation in Italy.

Though blue was not the only colour Bitossi favoured, it has become closely associated with the brand’s identity. The collection is still in production today and widely collected by ceramics enthusiasts.

This joyful work of mid-century handblown art glass is by Japanese art glass studio Kamei glassworks. There is an air of graceful elegance in its form, particularly with the hot-worked unfurling and rippling rim that is seminal to Kamei's glass art expertise. The form of the main body proudly displays the evenly curved segments with the overlapping Cobalt Blue interwoven with the White. 

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips or cracks or repairs, with few and mild movement marks on the underside of the vase base that is commensurable with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 5.7" / 14.5 cm (base to rim) Rim measurements: c. 5.2" / 13.2 cm x c. 4.9" / 12.5 cm (across widest points). Base diameter: c. 2" / 5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.4 kg / 360 g. 

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Fun fact: the literal translation of the word 'Kamei' is 'Turtle well' and is, in fact, a Japanese surname. The Kamei glassworks was founded in Osaka, Japan in the 1910s.

Sadly, little is known about the glass artists resident at the glassworks. Perhaps it is due to the language barrier but it is well known amongst the avid glass collectors community that there are many Chinese and Japanese glassmakers whose skill and techniques rival the famous Murano, Czech and Scandinavian makers of the Western world. The styles in which the glass was produced were similar to that of their Western counterparts but like all things, they had subtle differences, such as the finishing technique and colour palettes (a tendency for more vivid colours).

This outstanding work of mid-century handblown art glass is of Japanese art glass design and by the well known Japanese glassworks of Iwatsu who were known to have produced art glass under the labels of Hineri and Art Glass.

There is an air of graceful elegance in the form of this piece and has accents that are similar to a dish from the Fantasy series by another well known Japanese art glass studio Sanyu. The form of the main body proudly displays the evenly curved and organically shaped segments which alternate between curling and unfurling. The palette of this piece is a combination of Raspberry pink, Grape purple, Blueberries and Blueberry Soda blue. The colour palette combined with the form makes this piece a rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips or cracks or repairs, the most considerable age-wear are movement marks and flakes that are on the underside of the base and are commensurable with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base has a concave pontil that is a known finishing touch of Iwatsu.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm (base to rim) Length/Width: c. 9.3" / 23.5 cm x c. 9.3" / 23.5 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 4.3" / 11 cm x c. 4.3" / 11 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.3 kg / 1,260 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Iwatsu Glassworks
Unfortunately, little is known about Iwatsu despite being one of the largest glassmakers in Japan, the commonly cited and understood reason is due to language barriers. However, Iwatsu is deemed to have produced art glass under the Hineri and Art Glass labels before closing in the 1990s. Iwatsu were known to have been based in Osaka in Japan, producing colourful art glass during the 1970s. The quality and style of their work rivalled and is often mistaken for, Italian Murano glass and Czech glass from the same period.

This majestic work of English studio art pottery piece is of English Art Deco design, with a colour palette of Monet's 'Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt' oil painting.

Beautifully sculptural and seemingly simple, this piece is a manifestation of the significant technique needed to result in its evenly-formed body and iconically Art Deco handle. The Art Deco accents appear most prominently in softly geometric, arching yet organic handle, with a flow-through of the inscribed lines and the graduating body. The hand-painted, silky, semi-matte glaze décor is a beautiful blending of brown tones in Light Walnut, Bronze, Sepia, Sand with deeper brown tones of Raw Umber, Fig, Dark Sienna, and green tones of Powdered Sage, Pale Olive.

This piece has a gracefully elegant presence, is an embodiment of English Art Deco design from c. 90 years ago and its exceptional condition makes it a rare find.

CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. Mentioned for completeness; there is mild crazing all over that is consistent with the age of the piece. Please see photographs as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears the inscriptions of the model number '258 L' and 'Rd No 788313' [Registered Number] that dates the piece to c. 1933.

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 13.2" / 33.5 cm by c. 2.6" / 6.6 cm rim diameter. Width c. 5.3" / 13.5 cm (across widest point) Base measurements: c. 4" / 10.1 cm diameter. Weight: c. 1.1 kg / 1,085 g

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

Wade Ceramics 1867 - present

Wade Ceramics was originally founded in 1867, in Burslem, England, a collective of different pottery companies that specialised in earthenware and porcelain. 

The original companies were 

• Wade & Myatt (later became George Wade & Son, which made industrial ceramics and Wade Whimsies). Established 1867.
• John Wade & Co (later Wade Heath & Co, which made decorative ware, particularly Art Deco vases in the 1930s). Established 1867.
• J & W Wade (later AJ Wade Ltd, which made tiles, notably the original tiles for the London Underground). Established 1891.

Wade made its way into history with its figure collection known as Wade Whimsies that became hugely popular in the UK and America in the 1950s.  

A wonderfully Modernist piece of sculpted Italian stoneware with design inspiration taken from the Adriatic sea, off the coast of Rimini in Italy and hence the series name Rimini.

The glaze and the series which subsequently grew from it has become iconic and most highly collectable in Aldo Londis' work. The tones of Old Gold, Goldenrod and Espresso Brown in gloss glaze of this piece are a rarer variation to the more commonly found blues and greens in the Rimini Blu version of the series.

The geometric decor is very tactile, with shapes and lines etched into the clay during the crafting process. The glaze displays strokes of colour blended together finished with a glossy smooth glaze that is interspersed with coarse grit in the clay.

This piece additionally features Kintsugi golden seams following careful repairing and highlighting. The Kintsugi technique is modern and has been applied in a tactile manner, a gentle compliment to the tones of gold and brown in the glaze. 

CONDITION
Excellent. This piece has been carefully repaired using a robust water-resistant and durable resin.  There is natural wear that is most prominent on the undersides of the hooves and some gentle crazing is also present in the glaze which is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the belly is also marked with the model number of '45145/626' and 'ITALY' and an additional written inscription of 1965 on one hoof.  

MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 5.9" / 15 cm (ears to base) x c. 6.1" / 15.5 cm length (tail to nose). Width: c. 3.6 / 9.1 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.8 kg / 790 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Bitossi Ceramiche - Aldo Londi After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (1911-2003) became the creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, a position he held for more than 50 years. Londi apprenticed in ceramics at the young age of 11 and brought a deep expertise in traditional ceramics production to Bitossi.

He’s best known for his 1950s-era collection, the Rimini series (1955-1965). This iconic mid-century modern series contains over 150 designs, including bowls, vases, jugs and animal figurines, all glazed in a vibrant blue hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes.

Londi created the first piece glazed in Persiano Blue, the Ball Vase, in 1955. Shortly after in 1959, he began to create more pieces in the proprietary glaze. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted and expressive works into the modernist design conversation in Italy.

Kintsugi is a Japanese philosophy with similarities to the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, which includes ideas surrounding the embracing of the flawed or imperfect. The art of Kintsugi ("golden joinery") is the repairing of broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The aesthetics of this philosophy values breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.