Vintage Ceramic Vase from Wiener Keramik, 1930s

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Description of the object
large glazed ceramic centerpiece, produced by vereinigte wiener und gmundner keramik—the manufacturer that emerged from wiener … Read more Description of the object
large glazed ceramic centerpiece, produced by vereinigte wiener und gmundner keramik—the manufacturer that emerged from wiener keramik, founded in vienna by michael powolny and berthold löffler—and dating from approximately 1913 to 1919. The form is among the most original in secessionist production: a wide, flattened body, hand-thrown, that rises toward the opening with two recessed concave bands, like steps, each emphasized by a dense, raised beaded border, which is also repeated along the rim of the opening. This beaded motif is one of the most recognizable elements of powolny’s decorative style and of wiener keramik, making the attribution of this piece plausible. The exterior is decorated with the famous flared green glaze on a white background—the traditional “geflammt” decoration of gmunden—here reinterpreted in a modern key: the green glaze runs down in irregular, ever-changing patches and streaks, alternating with white areas, while a subtle iridescent metallic luster sets the surface aglow with rainbow-colored and silvery reflections that shift with the light. The interior is coated with a clean, luminous cream-white glaze, creating an elegant contrast with the exterior. Both manufacturers’ marks are stamped on the base: that of wiener keramik, featuring the letter “w” and a cluster of six dots, and that of gmundner keramik, featuring a stylized jar and the initials “k” and “g,” along with the model number 907. The presence of these two marks dates the piece to the years between 1913 and 1919, the period when the two manufacturers were united. It is in excellent overall condition, with fine hairline cracks in the glaze of the bands, slight brown firing spots on the interior near the rim, and minor glaze irregularities on the foot—all consistent with the technique and age of the piece. Michael powolny is one of the most important figures in 20th-century european ceramics and boasts numerous auction results: according to artprice, in the “ceramics” category—out of over 600 results—the top 100 highest prices range from 5,000 to 45,000 euros, while in the “sculptures” category—also with over 600 results— the top 100 highest prices range from approximately 4,400 to 50,000 euros—this serves to illustrate the significance of this artist and his works.

information about the artist and/or manufacturer
michael powolny (1871–1954) was one of the leading figures of the vienna secession and a major innovator in austrian ceramics. In 1906, together with the painter and graphic artist berthold löffler, he founded wiener keramik in vienna; its creations were distributed by josef hoffmann and koloman moser’s wiener werkstätte and adorned some of the most famous buildings of the era, such as the palais stoclet in brussels and the cabaret fledermaus in vienna. In 1913, wiener keramik merged with franz schleiss’s factory in gmunden, on lake traunsee—a town with a long-standing tradition of ceramics—giving rise to the vereinigte wiener und gmundner keramik, which combined the viennese avant-garde with the ancient craftsmanship of gmunden and, beginning in 1919, took the name gmundner keramik. A professor for over thirty years at the kunstgewerbeschule in vienna, powolny trained an entire generation of ceramic artists, including susi singer, vally wieselthier, and gudrun baudisch. His works are now housed in major museums of decorative arts, from the mak in vienna to the leopold museum, and are among the most sought-after pieces by collectors of secession-era design. I have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
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