this picture shows us the wonderful creations of the cartens factory where they created some of the most amazing lava items and remembering this jug is most likely a one off with its unique structure.i have not seen another like it so it suggests that they experimented with a host of different techniques and colors.It is said that carstens produced 10,000 items in 4000 sizes and that would mean a large work force which as we see today mantained a high quality control(m.p.thomas).It is rather the unusual pieces that will be in demand and call a handsome price.
this company started in 1900 and had their main designer as trude carstens wife of the owner of carstens.rudolf christmann and gerda heuckeroth were two top designers with dieter peter involved in the luxus range.here it is noted that the majority of the factory output had its name impressed/moulded on the base with a number expressing size and shape.they also attached labels to most of the designer pieces and a label will count for collectors as these pieces are then considered as new and never used besides we all love labels.
great reading can be found in the book by M.P.Thomas...deutsche keramik und porzellane der 60er und 70er jahre.This can be ordered direct only.
carstens also did a studio range mainly by gerda heuckeroth which is highly collectable and will fit into the latest designs and interiors of today.Most with earthy colors and great shapes which are more sculptured with texture.these are hard to find as they were not mass produced.mr.christman also created some marvelous shapes and very desirable remembering that each vase is a work of art on its own.
to see carstens work you can go to....Shop ...and here you can read about the start of carstens.....cartens

The picture shows off what a collection of wonderful jugs produced by scheurich in high glazes and lava drip most have their original labels will look like.These jugs are sought after today as they donot take up a lot of space and also make a statement to any modern apartment.
Scheurich produced thousands of articles from 1954 and are still in existance today.The production of the past really is well made when it comes to the high glazes and the lava drip or so called fat lava where no two pieces are the same so i find it very exciting finding a new piece.
They also produced a large amount of large floor vases which tend to damage very easily,guess thanks to the vaccum cleaner and wild running dogs etc.the other side is that of miniatures that are hard to find today for whatever reason and these are really qute and will suit the smaller apartment.
colors and shapes help determine the collectors fancy and as usual the vibrant colors are extremely popular as well as the lava drip or so called fat lava.To see some examples you can go here....Shop So happy hunting putting a great collection together.

a short break from the west germany ceramics and visiting the french part of the world showing the huge contrast to what we see in the past posts.the pair of vases and covers shown here are from the sevres factory and dated c 1860 decorated with the scene of two lovers and the reverse decorated with a castle scene.stunningly painted in fine detail with soft colors on a blue background and with white jewelling all around the vases.the bases and the top mounts are in a gilt metal which is finely cast.
blue underglaze mark for the period 1860 and they are in wonderful condition.Take a trip to the sevres museum here..... museum where did i find these well there is a story to tell!
mr and mrs found themselves at the age of 60 odd and with no health care cover in a difficult position as he was diagnosed with cancer and needed extensive treatment.i got to know them quite well and after several visits was shown the wonderful pics of the family schloss the family owned in germany before the war and yes we all know where the story goes from there.so these two items were amoungst several very desirable items that were taken out by the family and happy to say these two they treasured.Mr had a passion for fine french antiques and i was able to purchase a wonderful clichy paperweight and some designer silver.
he under went extensive treatment but sadly passed on several months later so these have good memories of a brave and intellectual man and his charming wife.
i must add that when invited on several occasions there was always tea and cookies laid out on good linen with fine porcelain and served with elegance.great memories of two lovely people.
next week i will be showing a collection of west germany ceramics so that the collector can see what these amazing jugs look like when one has 10 or so all together...they make a powerful statement and yes they will be for sale as a collection.
visit our shop...shop

There is so much to be said about German ceramics of the 50-70s that it was roaring at the time with an explosion of factories competing for a world market...whats so different from today everyone wanting a bigger slice of the market.Little did they know that 50 years later we would be chasing down the very same creations the difference being that we can at one glance see it all and choose from a plethora of articles diverse designs which
took them years to design and create and now with a click of a mouse we can see it all and buy what we fancy.
yeah the prices compared to the 50/60/70s are slightly different but then again so is oil!!!
One which i would like to discuss is that of the Ceramano factory which started in 1959 by jacob schaderlapp who also founded that most unusual Jasba factory.the production was of a very high standard with new designs forms and glazes which they experimented with and of course today these examples are highly sought after with good prices realized.A well know designer Gerda Heuckeroth worked for the company for a couple of years and its her designs that the collectors hunt and seek out today.Here i must add that not all production came with a name and number some with only a paper label-which should not be removed as this adds interest to the collector and selling price...so donot put it into the dishwasher!!!Examples have ceramano inscribed with numbers and some with the pattern name....a lot to look out for...when u see a piece that jumps out at you then you will know that quality and its most likely to be ceramano.
i have not loaded all my examples but then if you go Here examples can be found and they are surprisingly for sale.Happy hunting.
p.s. a little bird told me that a very serious and well documented book on west german ceramics will be hitting the shelves later this year and the moment i am made aware i will add a link to the shop as it will be a MUST buy for any collector...i guess it will also be in english!

in the picture we have several miniatures vases and jugs from 1950 through to 1970 from the Ruscha factory.Again they show us the fine quality produced as these items although being so small have the quality and clarity of the larger counterparts.The fat belly Lava jug is just an absolute darling and would stand on its own.
I have found that the smaller jugs and vases are very difficult to find as i guess like all smaller items get thrown away or lost and thats what happened 100^s of years ago...how the word ..miniature came about...miniature and some details of the loss thereof.
Its great to know that there is a fine collection to be built of these tinies which would not cost a fortunate and certainly not take up that much space..yet they have the same if not nicer collectors look.who can really say no to these darlings certainly not those who purchased these probably on their travels as a small momento.
these measure just 7cm high and some are numbered and here i would also like to note...for those doing research..that one has a number and then a M...perhaps indicating...miniature.Now that i find very interesting.
with the long hours spent traveling the countryside i have managed to find in the order of some 38 odd pieces covering 8 different factories i was tempted to purchase two wall shelves to display these gorgeous pieces...yes and u guessed correctly i bought dem!
So later i will post the collection and hope by then i have a whole lot more...and who said this is not hard work its taken me a year to put these together and when i have a good collection of 50 or more i will offer them as a collection.
why not sell them now...if the truth be known ...they take up little or no space at all and really....who sells their new babies.
i am off to Lausanne this week and hope to come back with some treasures and next week will be a week of loading many items in the fat lava section so keep your eyes peeled...Here have a great weekend

seen in the picture of two jugs are ruscha pieces that are extremely well made and stand alone on their own merit.saying this means that the structure and the glaze is of a very high quality and once again the overall finish in a superb quality.
the jug on the left is of a chunky style with a strong handle as is the Lava spill that covers the jug right down to the footrim ending in single drips leaving the strong brown showing through giving it a strong base.The lava has a muted green (white mix) and a tinge of red showing sparsely in places. this really reminds me of the medieval times when those rugged men clothed in wild skins with sandled feet and bedecked in heavy styled jewellry sat with legs apart and one arm on the large wooden table and a large chunky of meat being torn between their teeth a wench comes forward with this fat lava jug to fill his goblet with wine.a perfect setting for this jug as it speaks a thousand words and that means someone out there who designed or dreamt up this style had a serious story to tell of his creation.
now u can see why i am driven by the sheer diversity of Ruscha Art Pottery.
to the jug on the right we have a bottle vase with handle,reminds me of holmegaard design,decorated in a deep chocolate brown with a blue white Lava drip that is rather thick possibly similar to the moons and planets where we see this effect.shoot me to the stars baby.just love it as it is so soothing and the lava gives u the feeling that it is still moving at a snails pace not knowing when it will end.overall a well formed piece with the footrim finished off to a very high standard and a neatly impressed number.
one of the many favorites and Ruscha is in my blood.so raise your glasses and 'cheers' .next post will feature miniatures which are equally as stunning.
and then to see more of these stunning creations visit....Here