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Rare Hutschenreuther Archais Vase Heinrich Fuchs Model 5096/18 Bisque Porcelain
€299Bid from €267
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Berlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 23 sales
Product description
Hutschenreuther “Archais” Vase by Heinrich Fuchs – Model 5096/18 – Bisque Porcelain – Germany, 1960s–1970s
Description
A sculptural porcelain vase from the celebrated Archais series by Heinrich Fuchs for Hutschenreuther—one of the most intellectually rigorous and formally distinctive bodies of work in postwar German porcelain design.
Model 5096/18 exemplifies the series’ defining vocabulary: a compact, almost architectural volume articulated through deeply carved concave segments. The surface appears both geometric and organic—like a softened cube eroded by time or shaped by wind. This tension between strict form and natural modulation is central to Fuchs’ design philosophy.
Executed in matte white bisque porcelain, the vase rejects decorative excess in favor of pure structure and light. The unglazed surface absorbs illumination rather than reflecting it, allowing shadows to accumulate within the recessed facets. As a result, the object shifts continuously depending on viewpoint and lighting—less a vessel than a small spatial study.
The interior is finished in a subtle pale glaze, providing a quiet contrast to the exterior’s dry, mineral-like texture—an understated but deliberate detail typical of high-quality mid-century German porcelain production.
Design Context
Heinrich Fuchs’ Archais series, developed during the 1960s and 1970s, stands at the intersection of Minimalism, Op Art, and architectural modernism. Rather than relying on ornament, Fuchs constructs visual rhythm through relief and repetition—creating objects that feel almost carved rather than manufactured.
Within Hutschenreuther’s production, these pieces represent a shift toward sculptural thinking in industrial porcelain—aligning the manufactory with broader European modernist tendencies of the period. Today, the Archais models are among the most sought-after examples of German bisque porcelain design.
Details
Manufacturer: Hutschenreuther, Germany
Designer: Heinrich Fuchs
Series: Archais
Model: 5096/18
Material: Bisque porcelain (matte exterior), glazed interior
Color: White
Period: circa 1960s–1970s
Dimensions
Height: approx. 18 cm
Condition
Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or restorations. Minimal, age-appropriate handling traces. The bisque surface remains clean and crisp, with well-defined relief.
Collector’s Note
The Archais series has increasingly gained recognition among collectors for its quiet radicalism—objects that operate somewhere between functional design and small-scale sculpture.
This model, with its compact yet powerful geometry, is particularly effective as a standalone piece or in dialogue with other bisque works (for instance by Rosenthal or KPM), where its interplay of light and shadow can fully unfold.
A refined and intellectually compelling example of German modernist porcelain at its most distilled.
General Information
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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 items1BrandRosenthalHeight18 cmWidth18 cmDepth7 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Berlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 23 sales