Heinrich Fuchs “ARCHAIS” Porcelain Vase Duo for Lorenz Hutschenreuther, Germany, 1960s–1970s
A refined sculptural vase duo from the influential ARCHAIS series by Heinrich Fuchs, designed for Lorenz Hutschenreuther during the late 1960s. Executed in glossy white porcelain, the pair presents two distinct but closely related interpretations of Fuchs’s modernist relief language: one compact and vertically structured, the other wider, faceted, and architectural.
Design & Form
The ARCHAIS series is defined by a controlled dialogue between archaic symbolism, organic structure, and modern optical rhythm. Fuchs translated natural and archaeological associations into precise porcelain forms: ridges, facets, concave planes, and repeated reliefs that shift with light and perspective.
In this glossy execution, the porcelain becomes especially luminous. Unlike matte bisque versions, where the surface reads more tactile and mineral, the glossy glaze sharpens the edges and allows light to move across the reliefs with almost liquid clarity.
The duo works beautifully as a sculptural pairing: the taller 6142/20 vase offers a slim, rhythmic verticality, while the broader companion vase introduces a folded, almost shell-like presence.
Details
Designer: Heinrich Fuchs
Manufacturer: Lorenz Hutschenreuther, Germany
Series: ARCHAIS
Model: 6142/20 and companion ARCHAIS form
Material: Porcelain
Finish: Glossy glaze
Color: White
Design period: circa late 1960s–1970s
Origin: Germany
Dimensions
Vase 1:
Height: 20 cm
Width: approx. 8 cm
Opening: approx. 5.5 x 5.5 cm
Model: 6142/20
Vase 2:
Height: 22 cm
Width: approx. 16.5 cm
Depth: approx. 10.5 cm
Condition
Excellent vintage condition with minimal signs of age and use. No chips, cracks, or restorations. The glossy surfaces are well preserved and the forms remain crisp and clearly defined.
Designer Context
Heinrich Fuchs was one of the key figures in postwar German porcelain design. His work for Hutschenreuther helped move the company from traditional decorative porcelain toward sculptural modernism. With ARCHAIS, he developed a vocabulary that feels both ancient and futuristic: part fossil, part Op Art object, part architectural study.
Design Context
Produced during a period when German porcelain manufacturers were actively engaging with contemporary art, the ARCHAIS series reflects the broader 1960s fascination with perception, repetition, and surface modulation. These are not merely decorative vases, but porcelain objects that explore rhythm, relief, and spatial presence.
Collector’s Perspective
Glossy examples of ARCHAIS forms are less frequently encountered than the more familiar matte bisque versions. As a duo, these two pieces offer a particularly elegant comparison within the same design language: vertical relief and folded geometry, both unified by the purity of white porcelain.
A precise, luminous, and quietly radical pair — modernist porcelain at its most disciplined.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Please explore our profile for more vintage vases!
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 goodColorsWhiteMaterialPorcelainNumber of items2Height22 cmWidth16 cmDepth10 cm