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Crackle Glaze Art Pottery Vase Villeroy & Boch Mettlach Germany circa 1920s–30s
€179Bid from €120
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Crackle Glaze Art Pottery Vase – Villeroy & Boch Mettlach, Germany, circa 1920s–1930s
A refined art pottery vase produced by Villeroy & Boch in Mettlach, Germany, during the interwar period. Finished in a luminous pale turquoise crackle glaze, the piece exemplifies the manufactory's longstanding mastery of ceramic surface treatments and its engagement with the European fascination for monochrome art pottery inspired by East Asian ceramics.
The softly rounded body and restrained silhouette place emphasis on the remarkable glaze itself. Fine craquelé lines spread across the entire surface, creating a delicate network that transforms with changing light and viewing angles. The resulting effect is both decorative and quietly sophisticated, embodying the transition from late Jugendstil sensibilities toward the cleaner forms associated with Art Deco.
Dimensions
Height: 14 cm
Width: 15.5 cm
Depth: 15.5 cm
Opening: 10 cm
Material: Ceramic
Manufacturer: Villeroy & Boch Mettlach
Colour: Pale turquoise blue
Era: Circa 1920s–1930s
Origin: Germany
Condition: Very good vintage condition; no chips, cracks, or restorations.
Remarks: Original Villeroy & Boch Mettlach mark to the underside. Fine craquelé glaze throughout.
The vase presents an elegant globular form with gently swelling shoulders and a subtly flared rim. Its proportions are balanced and harmonious, allowing the extraordinary glaze surface to become the primary visual feature. The pale turquoise tone recalls celadon ceramics while remaining distinctly European in character.
The crackle pattern is particularly successful, forming an intricate web of fine lines that enhances the depth and softness of the glaze. Such effects were highly prized by collectors during the early twentieth century and reflect the influence of Chinese Song ceramics and Japanese pottery on European decorative arts.
About Villeroy & Boch Mettlach
The Mettlach works of Villeroy & Boch stand among the most important ceramic manufacturers in European history. Founded in the eighteenth century and internationally recognised by the nineteenth century, the company became renowned for its technical innovation, artistic collaborations, and exceptional standards of production.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Mettlach produced a wide range of artistic ceramics that combined historical influences with contemporary design movements. Alongside their celebrated stoneware, architectural ceramics, and decorative objects, the factory developed sophisticated glaze techniques inspired by Asian prototypes and the broader European Art Pottery movement.
The present vase belongs to this tradition, where ornament is achieved not through painted decoration but through the interaction of form, colour, and glaze chemistry. Its restrained elegance, exceptional surface quality, and timeless proportions make it an attractive example of German ceramic design from the Art Deco era.
Today, pieces of this type appeal equally to collectors of Villeroy & Boch, German art pottery, Jugendstil and Art Deco ceramics, and interiors seeking authentic early twentieth-century decorative objects with a calm and enduring aesthetic presence.
General Information
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International buyers: import duties or taxes, if applicable, are the buyer’s responsibility.
All items are photographed and described with care. Vintage pieces may show minimal traces of age; any significant flaws will be clearly mentioned.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsMint, TurquoiseMaterialCeramicNumber of items1Height14 cmWidth15 cmDepth15 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales