Bertoncello, Screziato Tabacco Tan Glaze, Mid-Mod Sculptural Pitcher Jug Vase, Italian, 1960s-80s
Regular price£133.00
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This striking work of mid-century Modern Italian ceramic is by Bertoncello Ceramiche D'Arte (estd. c. 1956 - c. 1999). The sculpted and abstract pitcher form firmly displays influences of Modernist design as well as design qualities reminiscent of Art Deco Bauhaus geometricism. The overall shape is that of an sculpturally exaggerated segment with the arched curve featuring the handle that is created from the circular piercing.
Further elevating this piece is the richly silky glaze that invites touch, this glaze is one of two Bertoncello signature glazes called the Screziato. This particular shade is the Screziato Tabacco, a refined blending of rich and Golden Ochre, tinged with Sienna which gives added depth.
Like many other Italian potteries that were popular during the mid-century period, little is known about the pottery but the exceptional quality of design undeniably speaks for itself.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips, cracks, or repairs. Most notable wear are the movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photographs as they form part of the condition report. The base bears model number '971'.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 8" / 20.3 cm x c. 8.7" / 22 cm width (across widest point). Depth: c. 3.5" / 8.8 cm (across deepest point). Base measurements: c. 6.3" / 16 cm x c. 3.5" / 8.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.9 kg / 855 g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Bertoncello Ceramiche D'Arte was founded in Schiavon, Italy around 1956 and was first known as LBP, an acronym created with the first letters of the founders surnames Mr Lini, Giovanni Bertoncello and Mr Pizzato.
For many years it was run solely by Giovanni Bertoncello (b. 1930 - d. 2011) and his brother Felice after Mr Lini left the company a few years after the pottery's founding. By the 1970s the pottery had grown to a staff of around 30 with Giovanni being the creative driving force behind the forms and glazes. In the early years Giovanni benefited from some support by a Venetian teacher, Mr. Boatto. Sadly not a lot is known about the company as all its catalogues and archives were destroyed when the company closed in 1999, however, the legacy of Bertoncello's design is undeniable in the history of Italian mid century art ceramics.
Bertoncello's signature designs are often very sculptural, with echoes from geometricism and modern architecture. Dramatic curves, rounded edges and corners, pierced forms and an organic feel are recurring features.
Iwatsu Hineri Glassworks, Sculpted Apricot, Scarlet and Violet Stripe Vase,1960s-70s, Japanese
Regular price£88.00
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This bold and joyful mid-century work is of Japanese art glass design and by the Japanese glassworks Iwatsu, who were known to have produced art glass under the labels of Hineri Art Glass.
There is an air of organic gracefulness in the way the stripes ripple and curve outwards as the body lightly twists, displaying an 'unfurling' of the two wings. The colours of Apricot, Scarlet Red and Violet swirl gloriously from the centre of the vase and reach outwards in the alternating bands of colour. The red and violet tones are translucent, showing spectacular refractions when placed in the path of sunlight. The work is finished with a clear glass 'Sommerso' casing.
This excellent piece is stylistically timeless yet very obviously retro and above all, joyful.
CONDITION Very Good. There are light surface marks with the most considerable wear being movement marks that are on the underside of the base, which 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. 7.9" / 20 cm (base to rim) Width/Depth: c. 7.9" / 20 cm x c. 3" / 7.5cm (across widest points). Base diameter: c. 3.1" / 8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.3 kg / 1,310 g
NOTES Vase 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.
Gunnar Nylund for Rorstrand, Chamotte 'Hedgehog' Series Talc White Sculpted Lamp Base, 1940s-50s
Regular price£1,643.00
Save £-1,643.00
This striking work of Swedish mid-century design is from the 'Hedgehog' vases that were part of the larger 'Chamott' (Chamotte) series designed between 1936 to 1948 by the celebrated Swedish ceramicist and designer Gunnar Nylund (b.1904 - d.1997). These vases were often made into lamps, as this piece is here and typically come in 5 colours (Emerald, Topaz (Mustard), Turquoise, White, and Yellow). There are 3 forms to the Hedgehog vases; this piece comes from the 'AI' form and is the largest of the 3 available sizes at 21 cm in height (small 12cm, medium 16cm, large 21cm). Nylund became well known for his Chamotte sculptures, designing the series during his time as artistic director at Rörstrand.
Personally, I see a resemblance to the thick shaggy fleece of a Scandinavian mountain sheep in the Hedgehog Chamotte décor. Chamotte is also known as 'firesand', a raw ceramic material that has a high percentage of silica and alumina. It can be produced by firing selected fire clays to high temperatures before grinding and screening to specific particle sizes.
The décor makes this an exceptionally tactile piece, the highly textured, rough surface with the glossily glazed décor is a fabulous juxtaposition. The size of this piece gives it extra presence and the finishing accent of stylised bulb holder collar in Antique gold-tone makes it a statement piece.
CONDITION Excellent. There is light use wear to the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Mentioned for completeness: there is a minimal hairline crack on the underside of the base that is from production and not damage. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The base bears Rörstrand's stamp. Length of cord: c. 89.3" / 227 cm and is fitted with a European plug. Lamp takes standard A-series Screw bulb.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 8.3" / 21 cm (excluding bulb holder) height: c. 11.8" / 30 cm (including bulb holder). Width: c.5.5" / 14 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3.3" / 8.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 3.7 kg / 3,670 g
NOTES Lamp will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Gunnar Nylund (b. 1904 – d.1997) Nylund was a Swedish ceramic designer since the 1930s and is perhaps best known as the artistic director of Rörstrand and was already a well-established ceramic artist in Denmark - first at the Bing & Grøndahl Porcelain factory in Copenhagen and later at Saxbo.
Nylund was resident at Rörstrand from 1931–1955 and for the majority of this time, as artistic director. He became well known for his new matte feldspar glazed stoneware in hare’s fur and crystal glazes and for his stoneware animal sculptures. Over five decades, Nylund crafted some 30 reliefs and sculptures commissioned for public spaces, including Europe’s largest stoneware fountain the “Scanisarius” in Bromölla, Sweden.
Most of Nylund’s original sculptures in stoneware chamotte ended up in museums, as did much of his other work. Sculptures such as the “Lion Head” is found at the National Museum in Stockholm, “Blue Bird” is at the Sèvres museum in Paris, his antelope head “Abyssinian mountain nyala”, is at the Röhsska museet in Gothenburg and the “Hamadryas Baboon” is at the Malmö Museum.
His piece “Bulls head in oxblood” was bought by the Ateneum museum in Helsinki. And a lot of his other work can be found at other museums around the world.
Beswick Art Deco Bauhaus, Stylised Musical Note Spritzdecor Pitcher Jug Vase | British, 1920s-30s
Regular price£88.00
Save £-88.00
This work of sculptural excellence is of Art Deco design and by British Pottery Beswick, a firmly celebrated name in British ceramics design. The sleek pitcher jug form showcases the abstract musical note on both faces that has been shaped by a combination of 'so very Art Deco' softened geometric angles and curves. The overall form is even and well balanced and carries further accents of geometric angles and curves throughout.
The hand-painted semi-matte satin glaze décor is a base of sumptuously blended Powdered Turquoise. The base glaze is overlaid with a hand-painted arrangement of abstract geometric shapes and angles in a striking palette of Sienna, Mustard yellow, Turquoise and Pale Denim blue.
This refined piece is stylistically timeless and yet also prominently of the 1920-30s English times, the combination of the form with the colour palette makes it a rare find.
CONDITION Excellent. There are no chips or repairs. The most significant wear is movement marks that is on the underside of the base and is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears the inscription 'MADE IN ENGLAND' and the model number '125.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 7.1" / 18 cm. Width: c. 7.1" / 18 cm (across widest point). Depth: c. 2.8" / 7.2 cm (across widest point). Rim measurements: c. 4.3" / 11 cm x c. 2" / 5.2 cm. Base measurements: c. 4" / 10.1 cm x c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.7 kg / 740g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
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.
This majestic work is of mid-century Japanese 'Fazzoletto' art glass by Iwatsu Hineri glassworks. Glass collectors familiar with the Murano technique Fazzoletto (translation 'handkerchief) will know that this is the art of crafting glass to mimic the elegant flowing folds of fabric.
The graceful, undulating folds of this piece can be likened to the Hineri interpretation of the Fazzoletto technique, just as the capturing of the Scarlet Red and Violet and Indigo blue within the clear cased triangular base is a rival to the Murano Sommerso 'submerged' technique. The interior of the vase enables a view of the swirling colours as they whirl outwards into varying intensities of colour in the folds and lobes of the vase.
Amongst collectors, the skill and quality applied in creating Japanese art glass is very much known to rival its Western counterparts and can often be more difficult to find.
CONDITION Very Good. There is negligible surface wear and 2 flakes along the rim of the base that measures c. 2mm and 1mm respectively and does not affect the display. Beyond this, there are faint movement marks that are on the underside of the base. All wear is 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. 11.8" / 30 cm (base to rim). Width: c. 5.6" / 14.1 cm (across widest points). Base measurements: c. 3.7" / 9.5 cm x c. 3.5" / 9 cm x c. 3.5" / 8.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.6 kg / 1,620 g
NOTES Vase 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.
Gunnar Nylund for Rorstrand, Chamotte 'Hedgehog' Series Talc White Sculpted Lamp Base, 1940s-50s
Regular price£1,643.00
Save £-1,643.00
This striking work of Swedish mid-century design is from the 'Hedgehog' vases that were part of the larger 'Chamott' (Chamotte) series designed between 1936 to 1948 by the celebrated Swedish ceramicist and designer Gunnar Nylund (b.1904 - d.1997). These vases were often made into lamps, as this piece is here and typically come in 5 colours (Emerald, Topaz (Mustard), Turquoise, White, and Yellow). There are 3 forms to the Hedgehog vases; this piece comes from the 'AI' form and is the largest of the 3 available sizes at 21 cm in height (small 12cm, medium 16cm, large 21cm). Nylund became well known for his Chamotte sculptures, designing the series during his time as artistic director at Rörstrand.
Personally, I see a resemblance to the thick shaggy fleece of a Scandinavian mountain sheep in the Hedgehog Chamotte décor. Chamotte is also known as 'firesand', a raw ceramic material that has a high percentage of silica and alumina. It can be produced by firing selected fire clays to high temperatures before grinding and screening to specific particle sizes.
The décor makes this an exceptionally tactile piece, the highly textured, rough surface with the glossily glazed décor is a fabulous juxtaposition. The size of this piece gives it extra presence and the finishing accent of stylised bulb holder collar in Antique gold-tone makes it a statement piece.
CONDITION Excellent. There is light use wear to the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Mentioned for completeness: there is a minimal hairline crack on the underside of the base that is from production and not damage. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The base bears Rörstrand's stamp. Length of cord: c. 89.3" / 227 cm and is fitted with a European plug. Lamp takes standard A-series Screw bulb.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 8.3" / 21 cm (excluding bulb holder) height: c. 11.8" / 30 cm (including bulb holder). Width: c.5.5" / 14 cm (across widest point). Base diameter: c. 3.3" / 8.5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 3.7 kg / 3,670 g
NOTES Lamp will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Gunnar Nylund (b. 1904 – d.1997) Nylund was a Swedish ceramic designer since the 1930s and is perhaps best known as the artistic director of Rörstrand and was already a well-established ceramic artist in Denmark - first at the Bing & Grøndahl Porcelain factory in Copenhagen and later at Saxbo.
Nylund was resident at Rörstrand from 1931–1955 and for the majority of this time, as artistic director. He became well known for his new matte feldspar glazed stoneware in hare’s fur and crystal glazes and for his stoneware animal sculptures. Over five decades, Nylund crafted some 30 reliefs and sculptures commissioned for public spaces, including Europe’s largest stoneware fountain the “Scanisarius” in Bromölla, Sweden.
Most of Nylund’s original sculptures in stoneware chamotte ended up in museums, as did much of his other work. Sculptures such as the “Lion Head” is found at the National Museum in Stockholm, “Blue Bird” is at the Sèvres museum in Paris, his antelope head “Abyssinian mountain nyala”, is at the Röhsska museet in Gothenburg and the “Hamadryas Baboon” is at the Malmö Museum.
His piece “Bulls head in oxblood” was bought by the Ateneum museum in Helsinki. And a lot of his other work can be found at other museums around the world.
Empire Ware, Art Deco Iced Peach Tea and Turquoise Palette Diamond Planter Dish, British, 1920s-30s
Regular price£83.00
Save £-83.00
This stylised work of British art pottery piece is of English late-Art Deco design from the 1930s and is by the pottery Empire Ware.
Beautifully sculptural and seemingly simple, this piece is a manifestation of the significant technique needed to result in its evenly hand-formed body. The Art Deco accents appear most prominently in the softly geometric, diamond form. The hand-painted, silky, semi-matte glaze décor on the interior is a beautifully dappled blending of Iced/Powdered Turquoise that graduates into the Iced Peach Tea tones. The exterior décor is a reflection of the interior with the same tones.
This piece has a gracefully elegant presence, an embodiment of English Art Deco design from c. 85 years ago. The combination of its form, colour palette and condition makes it a particularly rare find.
CONDITION Superb. There are no chips, cracks or repairs. There is mild age-wear in the form of movement marks on the underside of the base and faint crazing all over that is commensurate with the age of the piece. Please refer to photographs as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is marked with Empire Ware's stamp.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 3.5" / 9 cm by c. 12.4" / 31.5 cm length (across longest point). Width c. 8" / 20.2 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 3" / 7.5 cm. Weight: c. 0.6 kg / 600 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Empire Ware began life as Empire Works, producing earthenware and porcelain in 1896 in Stoke-on-Trent. The company lasted through the decades reinventing themselves a few times until the works became too difficult to modernise and led to their closure in 1967. In more recent times, the mark 'Empire Ware Made in Portugal' appeared on the market however, pieces from this company are known as a tribute and reproductions of the original company.
Mari Simmulson for Upsala Ekeby, 1960 Eritrea Series, Burnt Sugar and Caramel Palette Bottle Vase
Regular price£148.00
Save £-148.00
This delicious work of Swedish Mid Century Modern design is by Mari Simmulson (b. 1911- d. 2000) for Upsala Ekeby. Simmulson was a celebrated Swedish ceramics designer and ceramicist, known for many series she designed at Upsala Ekeby which went on to become classics.
This hand-thrown and hand-glazed work comes from Simmulson's Eritrea series, these earthenware works were designed in 1960. The series is characterised by the delightfully textured and tactile Chamotte clay-formed works, glazed in a glossy Caramel-toned glaze with Deep Burnt Sugar brown vertical bands which trims the neck and shoulders of the body. The form of this piece and is undeniably Modernist in design, highlighting the seamless harmony of function, form, and raw materials.
CONDITION Excellent - there are no chips, cracks or repairs. There is age commensurate wear in the form of faint movement marks on the underside of the base. The underside of the base is inscribed with Upsala Ekebys 'UE Sweden' and Simmulson's 'ms' monogram as well as the model number '4475'.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 8" / 20.3 cm tall (from base to rim). Rim measurements: c. 1" / 2.5 cm. Diameter: c. 2.7" / 6.8 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 2.7" / 6.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.4 kg / 425 g
NOTES Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Mari Peterson Särgava, ceramicist and textile artist (b. 1911- d. 2000) began her career with an internship with Arabia in Finland and it was during this time she married Gustaf Simmulson.
Simmulson moved to Sweden in 1944 and began working with Wilhelm Kåge at Gustavsbergs, staying until 1949. Her career took her to Uppsala Ekeby in 1949, where she designed vases, figures, reliefs and wall paintings, many of them noted as unique pieces. She became a leading designer at Uppsala Ekeby where she remained until the early 1970s. Simmulson also received commissions for public pieces including at Luleå Kol, Upplandsbanken and Pharmacia.
This stunning, handblown work of Swedish Modernist design art glass is by Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983), who was considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. This particular piece comes from a series of 5 objects designed by Lindstrand between 1955-1956 for Kosta (Boda) glassworks. Similar to Wirkkala's Kantarelli (Chantarelle) series that was released around the same time, Lindstrand's series focuses on the gentle exaggeration and stylisation of organic curves and stripes. But whilst Wirkkala chose to create physically grooved stripes on his works, Lindstrand chose to embed feathering threads of Deep Espresso into the body of his series.
These beautiful threads are in fact individual and separate but the prismatic quality that is typically found in Swedish crystal magnifies the bands to create a rolling effect in the stem. This magnificent piece stays true to the roots of Modernist design through the beautiful simplicity of form that speaks to an honest expression of the natural material.
CONDITION Excellent. No chips, cracks or repair. There is negligible surface wear and movement marks on the underside of the base that is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base is signed with Lindstrand's initials and model number "LH1210" and further impressed with Lindstrand's acid edged stamp.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 7.2" / 18.3 cm tall (from base to rim) x c. 6.5" / 16.5 cm in width (across widest point). Base measurements: 2.4" / 6.1 cm. Unpackaged weight: 1.2 kg / 1,185 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Vicke Lindstrand (b. 1904 - d. 1983) is considered as one of the most influential 20th-century glass artists and a pioneer of glass art. Lindstrand's prolific career included many design highlights, including his ability to excel at a technique called Cased Glass (known to many glass collectors as 'Sommerso'), in which a vividly coloured or patterned section of glass is surrounded by and seems to float within a clear crystal body.
Lindstrand's career began in commercial illustration before finding employment at the glass manufactory Orrefors. He would join Kosta Boda in 1950, remaining there until 1973. Beyond his commercial work, he also produced several massive public sculptures around the world. Today, his works are in many museum collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Kosta Boda is Sweden’s oldest glass company, founded in 1742 and began making art glass — that is, unique and limited edition pieces — with the hiring of the painter Gunnar Wennerberg in 1898. Kosta Boda enjoys a reputation as the country’s most artistic and experimental glassworks, featuring artists and sculptors.
There are few Kosta Boda designers who stand foremost in the minds of collectors, one is Vicke Lindstrand, who excelled at a technique of 'Sommerso', or cased glass.
This touch-inviting work of art pottery is by the famous English ceramic artist and Art Director of Newport Pottery, Clarice Cliff (b. 1899 - d.1972). This particular piece comes from the Raffia Indiana series by Cliff in 1936(-37) with the form and hand painted décor being inspired by Native American basketware.
The exquisitely tactile design came during a time when taste was towards heavily modelled ware. Cliff reflected this preference into the intricately ribbed ridges on the 8 concentric bands and the carefully painted décor of this dish. This design also came during the time of Cliff's successful breakthrough into international fame, where she received unprecedented publicity and when the phrase 'career woman' did not exist.
This refined piece is an excellent representation of Cliff's innate ability to bring forth and elevate the unique qualities in something that is otherwise seemingly simple. Stylistically timeless, the combination of the design with the colour palette and its condition makes it a particularly rare find.
CONDITION Excellent. There are no chips or repairs, or crazing. There is insignificant and ageing to the glaze 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 dish is stamped with Cliff's 'Clarice Cliff, NEWPORT POTTERY, ENGLAND' and further stamped with 'REGISTRATION APPLIED FOR' that was in use between 1928-36 as Cliff had to register her designs to deter copies.
Please note that the dish/plate stand is not included.
MEASUREMENTS Height: c. 1.3" / 3.3 cm (from base to rim) x c. 9.2" / 23.4 cm diameter (excluding handles). Diameter: c. 11" / 28 cm (including handles). Base diameter: c. 4.6" / 11.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.5 kg / 530 g
NOTES Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY Clarice Cliff (1899 - 1972) Born in the city of Stoke on Trent that was made famous by its pottery in 1899, Cliff was working in one of the many factories by the time she was 13 and by the late 1920s she was designing the colourful pottery that would blossom her career. Her striking signature characteristics appeared in her use of colour, pattern and form design. Innovative and talented, she would go on to become Art Director for Newport Pottery in 1930.
Cliff became successful and internationally famous on an unprecedented level for a woman ceramic artist despite being known for being shy. Her colourful life and unmistakable skills in design are still being celebrated in modern day.
