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Mario Enke Stoneware Vase 89' Copper-Red Reduction Glaze H22cm D26cm Art Ceramic
€1,999Bid from €1,800
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Berlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 23 sales
Product description
Mario Enke – Kugelvase, 1989
Stoneware · Wood-Fired · Copper-Red Reduction Glaze
Height 22 cm · Diameter 26 cm
A powerful spherical stoneware vase by German ceramic artist Mario Enke, executed in 1989 and fired in a wood kiln at 1,250°C under reduction. This work represents Enke’s mature exploration of reduction atmospheres, surface tension, and sculptural vessel form.
Technique & Surface
Material: Stoneware (Steinzeug)
Firing: Wood kiln, reduction atmosphere, 1,250°C
Glaze: Copper-red reduction glaze (kupferrote Reduktionsglasur)
The surface displays a pronounced reduction-skin crackle (Reduktionshautkrakelee) combined with subtle gold-toned incrustations embedded within the glaze structure. After firing, the piece was etched, further enhancing the tactile depth and visual complexity of the surface.
The spherical form acts as a tension field for the glaze: the copper red shifts tonally depending on light, moving between deep oxblood, warm iron-red, and darker shadowed zones where reduction pooled more intensely. The crackle network is not decorative in the conventional sense but a direct trace of kiln atmosphere and material reaction.
Form
Height: 22 cm
Diameter: 26 cm
Year of creation: 1989
The kugelvase (spherical vase) format is central to Enke’s work of the late 1980s. The closed, almost planetary volume provides a controlled architectural body against which the unpredictable alchemy of the wood firing unfolds.
About Mario Enke
Mario Enke is a German ceramic artist known for his technically demanding wood-fired stoneware works and his mastery of reduction glazes. His practice is rooted in traditional kiln techniques while maintaining a distinctly contemporary sculptural presence.
Works from this kugelvase series were exhibited widely and comparable pieces are represented in institutional collections, including the Keramikmuseum Berlin, underscoring the art-historical relevance of this body of work within late 20th-century German studio ceramics.
Enke’s work is particularly valued for:
* Controlled wood-firing at high temperatures
* Expressive copper-red reduction surfaces
* Integration of glaze chemistry and sculptural volume
* A synthesis of material experimentation and formal restraint
Provenance & Rarity
This piece was acquired directly from Mario Enke at his atelier. According to the artist, this example represents the final available work from this specific kugelvase series, with the remaining pieces residing in museum and private collections.
While exclusivity claims in studio ceramics must always be treated with professional caution, the direct studio provenance adds significant authenticity and collector value.
Condition
Excellent condition.
No cracks, chips, or repairs.
Surface characteristics are intrinsic to the wood-firing and reduction process.
Why This Work Matters
This vase is not merely decorative ceramic but a kiln-born object shaped by atmosphere, chemistry, and time. It represents:
* A late-1980s example of German wood-fired studio ceramics
* A technically sophisticated copper-red reduction surface
* Documented exhibition lineage within an important series
* Direct artist provenance
For collectors of European studio pottery, reduction ceramics, or museum-level stoneware, this is a substantial and highly resolved example.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Please explore my profile for more studio ceramics, modernist porcelain, and curated design objects.
International buyers welcome. Import duties or taxes, if applicable, are the buyer’s responsibility.
All items are photographed and described with care. Vintage and studio-fired works may display kiln-related characteristics inherent to the making process; any significant condition issues are clearly stated.
Private sale under German law: no returns, refunds, or warranties.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsMulti ColorMaterialCeramicNumber of items1StyleVintageOrientationLandscapeArt sizeSmallHeight22 cmWidth26 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Berlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 23 sales