It seems German, but is it?

Height: 20 cm. Width: 13 cm.
But no marks at the bottom.
Where could this come from?





Sorry, second photo is not too sharp, but I thought it shows the shape a little bit better than the first.

My first thought is African - the sort of thing you'd see in stores like Cargo or Pier.

It really looks like a vase from Rudi Stahl Kunsttöpferei in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany.

Here's an original company ad from December 1956.



Horst Makus pictured a similar vase in it's book from 2005. He mentioned the form number but as there is no pic of the bottom, it's not clear if the vase has any marks or if he got the information from any catalogue.

But your vase really looks like Rudi Stahl, doesn't it?

Ralf

NaomiM wrote:My first thought is African - the sort of thing you'd see in stores like Cargo or Pier.

Oh, yes, you were on the right way - the company ad really shows that the decor was meant to look african.

I wonder what Africans would have thought about it...

Unfortunately there is no decor name mentioned in the ad or in Horst Makus' book, but both, Form and Decor, were made by Rudi Stahl himself.

Ralf J. wrote:

NaomiM wrote:My first thought is African - the sort of thing you'd see in stores like Cargo or Pier.

Oh, yes, you were on the right way - the company ad really shows that the decor was meant to look african.

I wonder what Africans would have thought about it...

Unfortunately there is no decor name mentioned in the ad or in Horst Makus' book, but both, Form and Decor, were made by Rudi Stahl himself.

Lol. Nice to know I was half right, even though I was wrong.

glad to have you on the forum Ralf

It does look like it, but than narrower in width and the scratches are slightly different. But I'd say it's the same design, especially because it's hand painted off course.
Thank you so much, Ralf.
Do you have some more info about Rudi Stahl and Höhr? Please let me know. I'm very eager to learn more about this subject. :-)

I got a few more company ads from the mid-50s but beside this there are few informations around. According to Horst Makus' book from 1998 Rudi Stahl founded a pottery in 1940 in Höhr-Grenzhausen (Westerwald area) together with his father Wendelin Stahl. All pottery was handmade and came out in small series. This explains why the decor slightly differs and you got a rare and unique piece, not industrial-made. Since 1979 Norbert Stahl (certainly a relative) led the company. Norbert Stahl is still around but I don't know if the company still produces pottery. I'm sure that the 2005 edition of Horst Makus tells some more, I will take a look at it this evening.

Concerning the company ad I posted above it seems that it's not only for the vase but also for the wall-mask which looks like a handmade piece or art as well. Looks a little scary though, huh!