Luigi Colani 1973 Zen Series for Friesland, Ceracron Stoneware, Black Space Age Atomic Teaset for 4

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
Presenting a fantastic set of Mid Century Modernist copper and glass tea ware from the Bauhaus, Eames and Panton era.

There is much to love about this set, from the Modernist geometric-accented and stylised-star copper elements to the subtly exaggerated elegance in the forms of the glass pieces. The set is very tactile, with the raised relief of the copper pieces being complimented by the polished smoothness of the glass.

The glass is Jenaer glass, a heat-resistant glass - this goes some way to explain how the glass can be so fine (at most 2 mm thick) and still be made into an oval shape for the teapot's body rather than the classic perfectly round sphere. There are small details which show off the craftsmanship in the way the design's been brought to life; such as the subtly exaggerated and slender angular handle as well as the spout.
The teapot has a detachable central chamber, with thin slits to act as a filter for loose leaf tea and a glass lid which is capped with a black iridised and stylised star motif copper cover. The body is 'cupped' on its bottom half with the black and copper stylised star cover, which you can see fanning around the circumference as you peer through the top half.

The warming stand is decorated with a stylised rope design in raised relief around it's centre and a tealight bracket is installed inside, there's also 17 vents on the top of the stand to evenly distribute the heat. The two ridged handles on the side are a useful addition for if you want to move the stand whilst it's still warm.

Each cup is a 'cup within a cup', the glass cup with its angular handle is etched with a trio of delicate lines as decoration near the rim and the body is 'cupped' by it copper base, decorated in the same stylised star design. Each cup has a matching saucer of copper with the iridised star design fanning around the circumference.

Finally, there is a sugar bowl with lid and a milk jug, both pieces have their own star design accented 'copper cup' . All of the copper 'cups' are detachable, with the exception of the teapot and the milk jug.

This collectors set is in incredible vintage condition, is fully functional and would suit a room with Modernist, Industrial, Contemporary and even Steampunk design theme decor.

CONDITION
Excellent - the glass doesn't have any chips or cracks, or scratches. The copper pieces have light use wear, with the most significant wear being two small dents to the underside of the teapot lid - not normally visible and mentioned for completeness.

MEASUREMENTS
- Teapot: c. 5.5" / 14 cm tall x c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm width (across body's widest point)
(Length from spout to handle c. 9.5" / 24 cm). Teapot volume: c. 1,000 ml / 1 litre.
- Warming Stand: c 2.5" / 6.3 cm tall x c. 5.5" / 14 cm diameter. (Handle to handle width: c. 8.3" / 21 cm
Milk Jug: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm tall x c. 3.5" / 9 cm width (across body's widest point)
Sugar Bowl: c. 4" / 10 cm tall (including lid) x c. 3.5" / 9 cm width (across body's widest point)
Tea Cup: c. 2.8" / 7 cm tall x 3.1" / 8 cm (across body's widest point)
Saucer: c. 0.5" / 1.3 cm tall x 4.5" / 11.5 cm diameter
Unpackaged weight (full set) c. 2.1 kg / 2,137 g

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

A BIT OF HISTORY
Schott & Gen Mainz was founded in 1884 by the glass chemist Otto Schott who had partnered with the Ernst Abbe, Carl Zeiss and his son Roderich Zeiss. Together, they founded the 'Glastechnisches Laboratorium Schott & Genossen', which would later become 'Jenaer Glaswerke Schott & Genossen' and then eventually, 'Schott AG'.

Jenaer Glass is called a heat-resistant and chemically resistant borosilicate glass developed by Otto Schott in 1887 . The glass was produced and distributed in Jena since the 1920s under the brand name JENAer GLAS and was used in both industry and household appliances. Important designers have been involved in shaping these products since the 1920s: Gerhard Marcks , Wilhelm Wagenfeld , Heinrich Löffelhardt , Bruno Mauder , Ilse Decho and Hans Merz . The heat-resistant glass is still in production today, under the brandname Trendglas Jena and the manufacturing company Csonka és Fiai GmbH has become one of the largest manufacturers of heat-resistant glass products in Europe.

Heinrich (Heinz) Löffelhardt (1901 -1979) was a German designer who decisively influenced the industrial design of the 1950s and 1960s in Germany. His porcelain and glass designs for Arzberg and Schott-Zwiesel are still produced today.