Ditmar Urbach, Modernist Tower Ceramic Vase in Silk Black and Blue-Greys | Czech, 1960s
Regular price£63.00
Save £-63.00
THE ITEM This stunning work of mid-century design is by Czech pottery Ditmar Urbach. The elegant tower form is softly geometric from its square base and is an excellent canvas for the poured, running glaze decor. The base glossy glaze is a semi-matte silken Black glaze, over which is poured and blended the layers of translucent as well as opaque teal, green, blue and grey gloss glaze. The curves of the vase helps to create the beautiful flowing trails.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild and negligible use wear on the interior and the exterior that is commensurate with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the vase base is marked with Ditmar Urbach's stamp and retains the original paper label denoting 'Keramické Závody Teplice' which loosely translates as 'Ceramic Works Teplice'.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 11.2" / 28.6 cm tall by 3.1" / 8 cm diameter (across widest point). Rim Opening diameter: c. 1.3" / 3.2 cm. Base diameter: c. 2.6" / 6.6 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1 kg / 954 g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Ditmar-Urbach AG Porcelain Factories operated under various names in Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia (later Trnovany, Czechoslovakia), from 1882 to 1938. The pottery began as Brothers Urbach. It merged with a factory owned by Rudolf Ditmar's heirs in 1919 and became Ditmar-Urbach.
The Nazis took over the factory from the Jewish owners in 1938 and it became part of Ostmark-Ceramic. It was nationalized after the end of the war in 1945. In 1947 Kurt Lichtenstern - heir to Ditmar Urbach's previous owner Richard Lichtenstern - who had emigrated to the U.S. and changed his name to Conrad H. Lester, took back the company. The final change was when the company was eventually taken over in 1967 by the Keramik Holding Laufen, which is now part of the ROCA group.
Ditmar Urbach produced in a broad range of styles for their decor and are well known for their handpainted Art Deco animal-themed kitchenalia and 'Alienware' series, named by collectors for their unusual combination of shapes, colours and glazes.
1950s-60s Beswick Pottery, Flower on Leaf Pastel Glaze Ceramic Dish | British | Rare Shape
Regular price£38.00
Save £-38.00
THE ITEM This charming 1950s piece is by British company Beswick Pottery. The shape is the more difficult to find design of a single bloom resting on a leaf.
The glaze decor is in a Pastel colour scheme which was hugely popular in the 1950s. The dappled glazing gives the variegated effect found on leaves and consists of pastel peach-pink, turquoise, yellow, and blue.
This piece suits display as a standalone piece or as a serving dish.
A BIT OF HISTORY Beswick Pottery 1892 - 2002 The Beswick firm was founded as 'J W Beswick' in 1892 by James Beswick and his sons in Staffordshire and originally produced tableware and ornaments. The pottery was chiefly known for producing high-quality porcelain figurines such as animals and Beatrix Potter characters that have become highly sought after in the collectables market.
Following James Beswick's death in 1921, his grandson John took over and continued to expand the business. In 1934, introduced a new range of jugs, bowls and vases decorated with new matte glazes. Responding to the Modernist design influence of the time, many of these highly distinctive shapes were designed by Mr Symcox. These works were often decorated in 'satin-matte' glazes using soft pastel colours running into each other or arranged in striking modern geometric blocks and lines. Beswick would go on to become known for their ceramic animal figures before being taken over by Royal Doulton in 1969 and finally closing in the early 2000s.
CONDITION Very Good - Excellent. There is mild crazing all over that is commensurable with the age of the piece. There is a minor hairline crack that is an imperfection from the manufacturing process. The underside of the base is stamped with Beswick's 'Beswick Ware, MADE IN ENGLAND'. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. " / 6.3 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. " / 24 cm in width (across widest point) x length: c. " / 32 cm (from flower to leaf tip). Unpackaged weight: 0.8 kg / 803 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
