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Rare Unique Peill & Putzler Sculptural Satin Glass Vase West Germany 1970s–1980s
€650Bid from €549
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Peill & Putzler Sculptural Satin Glass Vase
West Germany, ca. 1970s–1980s
A monumental and highly atmospheric satin-finished glass vase by the renowned German glassworks Peill & Putzler, executed in an organic freeform silhouette that hovers between natural erosion, modernist sculpture, and ice-like translucency.
Standing nearly 30 cm high, the vase possesses a quietly commanding architectural presence. Its asymmetrical body rises in soft, geological curves, while the frosted satin surface diffuses light with an almost alabaster-like softness. Depending on the angle, the object evokes a glacier, a polished river stone, or a wind-shaped mineral formation — a perfect example of late West German design’s fascination with biomorphic abstraction and tactile materiality.
The thick-walled glass has been acid-treated to achieve its velvety matte finish, creating a delicate interaction between opacity and translucence. Light penetrates the form softly, emphasizing the sculptural contours beneath the satin surface. Unlike sharply geometric Scandinavian crystal of the same era, this piece embraces a more sensual and elemental visual language.
Though unsigned except for a small embossed mark to the base, the vase is attributable to Peill & Putzler through its production characteristics, material treatment, and formal vocabulary associated with the company’s high-end artistic glass production of the 1970s and 1980s.
Peill & Putzler — German Modernist Glass Tradition
Founded in Düren in 1903 as Peill & Sohn and later merged with the historic Putzler glassworks in 1947, Peill & Putzler became one of the most important German glass manufacturers of the postwar period. The company collaborated with significant designers including Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Wilhelm Braun-Feldweg, and Helmut Demary, and was among the founding members of the Rat für Formgebung (German Design Council) in 1953.
During its peak in the 1950s–1970s, the factory employed up to 1,500 workers and became internationally known for technically refined lighting, crystal, and artistic glass objects that combined industrial precision with modernist experimentation.
This vase belongs to the more sculptural side of Peill & Putzler production — objects where glass was treated less as decorative tableware and more as autonomous form.
Details
Manufacturer: Peill & Putzler
Country: West Germany
Period: ca. 1970s–1980s
Material: Satin-finished art glass
Colour: Frosted transparent white
Finish: Matte / acid-etched satin surface
Dimensions
Height: 29.5 cm
Width: 24 cm
Depth: 12 cm
Condition
Very good vintage condition with only minimal traces of age and production-related irregularities consistent with hand-finished studio glass. No cracks or chips observed.
Collector’s Note
Large-scale sculptural satin glass objects by Peill & Putzler remain considerably rarer than the company’s better-known lighting production. Pieces of this size and organic asymmetrical form function almost as standalone sculptures — equally compelling in minimalist, brutalist, or soft modern interiors.
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.
Private sale under law: no returns, refunds, or warranties.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsTransparentMaterialGlassNumber of items1BrandPeill & PutzlerHeight29 cmWidth24 cmDepth12 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales