This piece is a beautiful design of Art Deco from the iconic Rubin series by Gefle Upsala Ekeby's renowned artistic director, Arthur Percy.
Percy combined the gentle curves in the form of this piece, the colour and stylised floral gold gilding into a modernised statement of Scandinavian influenced chinoiserie. The design overall, is seamless blend of the luxury, glamour and exuberance of which the Art Deco design movement represented.
CONDITION
Superb. No chips or cracks, there is age-wear present in the form of mild wear to the gold gilding which is commensurable with age of the piece. The base bears the Upsala-Ekeby Gefle stamp, 'Rubin', the numbers '252', '19' and the inscribed initials of 'DP'.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 3.9" / 10 cm tall (from base to rim) x 4.1" / 10.5 cm in diameter (rim). Base diameter: c. 2.4" / 6 cm. Unpackaged weight: 0.3 kg / 345 g
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Carl Arthur Carlsson-Percy, a ceramist and artist, born in Vickleby on August 10, 1886, son of sailor Nils Petter Carlsson and Johanna (Hanna) Sofia Andersson, married to Kerstin Beckman from 1911.
Percy traveled to Stockholm during the early 20th century to train himself as a decorative painters. In 1905 he went to the school of artistic association and in 1908 he traveled to Paris for studies at Académie Collarossi and Matisse Painting School. He would go on to become artistic director in 1923 at Gefle Porslinsfabrik(which became part of Upsala Ekeby in 1936). In 1942 he became artistic director at Karlskrona Porslinsfabrik until 1946.
His early work was characterised by items with soft decorations of flowers and birds, he was also inspired by Italian 14th and 16th centuries, which was also reflected in his work. During the 1920s, his renowned work includes the series "Gefle", "Vinranka", "Floating Blue", "Iris", "Three Flowers", "Silversties" and "Christina". During the 1930's and 40's came "Suecia", "Exotica" and his perhaps most famous décor "Rubin".
Percys art is represented in a large number of Swedish and foreign museums, including National Museum and Modern Museum, Prince Eugens Waldemarsudde, Art Museum in Gothenburg, and museums in Malmö, Norrköping, Lindköping, Västerås, Borås, Jönköping, Kalmar, Karlstad, Gävle and Östersund, etc. Abroad, one can find his art at the Sévres Museum in Paris, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Pau, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Metropolian Museum in New York and the Lubeck Museum in Germany and others.
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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.
THE ITEM
A beautifully crafted Murano work of art glass, the curve and 'wave' which crests into a gently twisted peak to one side of the dish makes this a wonderfully biomorphic piece.
The Millefiori decor and variegated tones of blue on the white opaline glass organically follows the form of the glass, adding depth to the overall piece.
This elegant piece would suit a room with Retro, Vintage or Contemporary inspired decor.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Millefiori (Italian: [milleˈfjoːri]) is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware. The term Millefiori is a combination of the Italian words "mille" (thousand) and "fiori" (flowers). The Millefiori technique involves the production of glass canes or rods, known as Murrine, with multicoloured patterns which are view-able only from the cut ends of the cane. A Murrine rod is heated in a furnace and pulled until thin while still maintaining the cross section's design. It is then cut into beads or discs when cooled.
CONDITION
Excellent, few movement marks to base commensurable with age.
Unpackaged weight: 0.4 kg / 408 g
MEASUREMENTS
c. 3.1" / 8 cm tall x c. 7" / 18 cm wide (across dish's widest point)
NOTES
Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
THE ITEM
If you were looking for a pair of sleek and 'vintage chic' defining vases, then congratulations, here is a pair. That's why you're reading this right? You were likely drawn to them the same way I was.
The abstract Orchid pattern is very well balanced between broad defined shapes and depth in the dotted detail to take the pattern away from being totally flat. There is also enough simplicity in the colour palette of apricot orange, plum purple and candy apple red against the white to avoid the pieces becoming too overpowering and gaudy.
CONDITION
Excellent, there is only one mark on the tall urn vase, very light wear to the gold trim - no chips, scratches or cracks otherwise, please see photos as part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS
Bottle Vase (left in the first photo): c. 8.4" / 21.5 cm tall x c. 4.5" / 10.5 cm wide (across body's widest point) Unpackaged weight: c. 0.6 kg / 622 g
Tall Urn: c. 10" / 26 cm tall x c. 5.5" / 14 cm wide (across body's widest point) Unpackaged weight: c. 0.8 kg / 847 g
NOTES
Vases 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 1872 as small decoration company under the name of 'Jaeger, Thomas & Co.' (1872 until 1898). During the first few years everything was fine but after various disputes with Jaeger regarding the product range and funding of special projects, Fritz Thomas decided to quit the company in 1898 to form 'Thomas & Ens'.
Following the departure of Thomas the factory itself was slightly modernized and slowly expanded, by 1913 already employing around 400 workers and over the years the factory flourished. By 1930, Jaeger employed 500 workers, however, during the post-war period, the company had to fight to recapture its market share. In 1979, the company Sebring from Italy purchased Jaeger with all its assets.
A wonderfully sumptuous piece of mid-century modern ceramic. The texture of the glaze, the colours, the curves and the balance of the form ...
It is every bit as ultra-chic as it looks and even more so 'in the flesh'. The glaze is silky and smooth to touch and visually, is a refined blending of rich and pale vanilla, tinged with deep sienna which gives added depth. Step back to look at the piece as a whole, it resembles well-aged tanned leather or Italian marble.
There are no unnecessarily exaggerated curves where there shouldn't be and as an overall piece, there is fantastic aesthetic balance.
A rare size for the shape, this piece has excellent presence and makes it piece a work of art that command attention in own space. Would suit a retro, mid century modern, contemporary, vintage or even industrial decor themed room.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Bertoncello Ceramiche was founded in Schiavon, Italy around 1956. For many years it was run solely by a Mr. Lini and Giovanni Bertoncello (1930-2011), but by the 1970s had a staff of around 30. Giovanni was the creative force behind the forms and glazes, supported later by a Mr. Boatto – a Venetian teacher.
Sadly not a lot is known about the company because all its catalogues and archives were destroyed when the company closed in 1999. The forms of Bertoncello pottery are often very sculptural, modern and organic and some look like smaller studies or maquettes for massive modernist sculptures that are yet to be built. This sculptural appearance of many pieces was enhanced by the use of feet which subtly raise the piece off the surface on which it sits.
CONDITION
Mint condition, there is no sign of use or any damage.
The vase was made with standing ridges on the base to keep the base off the surface it stood on, there was also standing foam applied to the ridges. Base also bears the number '142', please see photos as part of condition report.
MEASUREMENTS
c. 9" / 23 cm tall by c. 9.5" / 24 cm wide (across body's widest point)
Unpackaged weight: c. 1.2 kg / 1,208 g
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
THE ITEM
A pair of biomorphic pink and blue pieces designed by Bohemian glass artist Josef Hospodka, pink and blue as opposed to the more commonly seen pink and uranium green you might see. With sunlight, the submerged colours and the lobed shape creates some wonderful refractions for brightening up the space these pieces inhabit, offering some wonderfully warm vibes.
CONDITION
Very good vintage condition, movement marks to base commensurable with age, please see photos as part of condition report.
MEASUREMENTS
Height c 4.3" / 11 cm x length of c. 11" / 28 cm x width of c. 7.5" / 19 cm across the widest points.
Unpackaged weight (the pair): c: 2.3 kg / 2,310 g
NOTES
Glass will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Glassworks Chřibská, whose logo shows the date 1414, is considered to be the oldest glassworks in the world and was operated without interruption for almost six centuries. The glassworks full name Sklarna Chribska was based in Czech Republic and known for their sculptural art glass vases and bowls, they remained in production until very recently. Chribska became part of the Borske Sklo National Corporation during the 1950's.
Chief designer during this time was Josef Hospodka, who specialised in sculptural blown glass designs.
Hospodka was born in Svihov and was educated at the State School for Graphic Arts in Prague. He became a pupil of prof. J Holocek at the Academy of the Arts during the period 1940 - 1945. Afterwards he became a teacher at the glass school in Novy Bor where he headed glass cutting techniques section. He also worked at Chribska doing coaching classes in moulded glass. In 1956, Chribska opened a new glass furnace and became involved in new glass production techniques. In 1958 Hospodka became the head designer of Borske Sklo and later became a director and Chief designer.