so what makes us want to collect anything at all perhaps thats what makes us happy and ofcourse the wanting to know our subject and its history.here we have german ceramics 60/70s which is not so long ago and quite easily available that is if u are the perpetual hunter and information on the subject is out there but as usual we need to do all the searching and as time is valuable the easy route is to find a reliable dealer who will help and guide u to the latest trends and future bargains.When we look at the german ceramics we see that they are relatively cheap at the moment for the workmanship and design but that is shortly coming to an end as great examples are hard to find.
colors and shapes could determine the route u wish to go in collecting and then u could also focus on the designer pieces only which is also a good idea but then there will be a higher price to pay.as seen in the picture...well not the best presentation..but then time runs out at times..shows us how great smaller pieces form the start of a collection.it is not only the color and shapes as these have a wonderful feel to the touch and they end up being your little darlings.those with the original labels will add interest and value and most importantly the condition condition condition.we have similar collections available in the shop and most at this moment in time are that of scheurich and ruscha.later i will also load a number of other companies with the most amazing high glazes and lost wax process.so keep an eye on the shop...scheurich where i will show further collections.

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.

so its the first snow for the season and i tell you its 40cm deep and still snowing.early this morning i awoke to this grand stillness as if nothing else existed with a small bright light,reflection of the brillant white snow.standing staring out the window,half naked and looking at this wonderful sight each and every surface covered with some degree of snow leaving no place for the little birds to pearch.
small footprints could be seen on the terrace leading from the outer to the covered section and making me wonder who or what had been running for cover.they were so tiny,on inspection,and made me wonder whether the fairies had come out to play as in certain sections there was a sparkle in the snow as if someone had sprinkled glitter as they went.....but no..i now know that it was the fairies as this must have been the miniscule snowballs that they were throwing aroung having fun.
i then realised that i had not heard the cheerful chirp of the birds and went looking for seed only to realise that i had not prepared a bird feeder.immediately there was a flash as i had just purchased a FAT LAVA birdfeeder...
this one has a pumice glaze and is well manufactured with no name or number but i guess a rare piece from the 60/70s. that it was never used as its so clean and the sisal rope has no dirt or wear.like most of us we buy something and then it goes into the cupboard left and forgotten.
so now i have the opportunity to hang this one up and use it and the birds are now so fashionable with eating out of a fat lava feeder...now all i need to find is a dish of some sorts for my pussy.

So here is that stunning find..marked Ruscha underneath..on a dark deep blue with a purple and gold decoration.
In reading what m.p.thomas has to say in his book deutsche keramik und porzellane der 60/70er jahre...he states that as ruscha was always changing their focus on prodution to meet the publics demand they created in the 60s some art deco designs and no mention of art nouveau...so i would guess that this example would be a big surprise to collectors...enjoy!!
perhaps this is one of those pieces considered to be of the psychadelic numbers that ruscha developed at the time using the purple which was the craze at the time...i should know too well as i have to admit that i once owned a pair of purple trousers in the late sixties....damn there goes my age..!!heavy gold jewellery was also the rage.
a long trip has turned up another most unusual piece and i am gob smacked by whats out there.This piece is a true FAT LAVA....bird feeder hanging by a sisal rope with the interior finished off with a white and blue speckles in the inside, topsides and bottom.On the bottom of this round feeder (has three large round cut outs)one can see that this piece stood on stilts in the oven and was finished off beautifully.i will post this item over the weekend and hope that someone out there(space included)could help confirn that this is a ruscha piece, jopeka or steuler as there are no makings at all. here is a link to a very good book with lots of good pics. link m p thomas......m.p.thomas
This book is in german so perhaps difficult for those who donot understand but i will be willing to help with translations.What am i letting myself into.....its the love of putting together a great collection ...and it has a large number of pics and design names where known.A must have.

these last weeks have turned up 15 Ruscha vases and jugs most with their ART LABELS still attached.the one pictured left has a Fat Lava glaze on a deep brown base and white (thick)fat lava.here one will note the strong handle produced and most of the larger jugs have these bold handles.the base is impressed 305.
ruscha was opened in 1905 by rudolf schardt and by the 1950^s the factory changed its styles and designs to keep ahead of their competitors.Art deco has been mentioned but again as there is so little available i found a stunning example of an Art Nouveau(style) jug which i will feature here next and i think it is extremely rare,so be sure to visit later in the week..wow!!
this factory is also famous for its wall plaques and large chargers(one in the shop) these plaques were given out to another company to attach the chains or metal work.Closing in 1996 the name was taken over by scheurich...which still manufactures today.
Also noted in their production is the tight clean glazes and the foot of articles are always finished off nicely leaving a clean white footrim.
numbers can be impressed or raised,these consits of three numbers and also three numbers with a hyphen followed by a single number.Ruscha is also found raised on the bottom.Some pieces have no numbers but when one gets to know the glaze and quality of the factory then it just screams...Ruscha
visit the shop...german ceramics 50 60s ceramics for examples.