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Retro Scherzer Werner Uhl Design Bisque Porcelain Bottle Vase Op-Art Relief TRIO
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Scherzer Bavaria Op Art Bisque Porcelain Vase Trio – Models 515-1, 515-2 & 515-3
Germany, ca. 1960s–1970s
A striking and increasingly rare complete trio of sculptural bisque porcelain vases by Scherzer Bavaria, representing one of the most refined intersections of German mid-century porcelain and Op Art–influenced geometric design.
Executed in matte white unglazed porcelain, the ensemble consists of the three related forms from the celebrated 515 series: the compact 515-1, the elegant bottle-shaped 515-2, and the monumental architectural 515-3. Together, the three pieces form a remarkably coherent sculptural composition in which rhythm, relief, scale, and proportion interact with exceptional harmony.
The series reflects the visual language of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when European ceramic designers increasingly embraced abstraction, optical movement, and architectural surface treatment. Rather than relying on color or ornamentation, these vases derive their visual power entirely from form, shadow, and repetition.
The relief decoration — composed of repeating concave and convex geometric elements — creates subtle optical shifts as light moves across the matte porcelain surface. Depending on the viewing angle, the objects appear alternately soft and sharply graphic, almost transforming into small-scale architectural studies rather than decorative vessels.
Particularly striking is the contrast between the three silhouettes:
the smallest form possesses an intimate sculptural compactness,
the medium vase introduces vertical elegance and rhythm,
while the tallest vase functions almost as a porcelain column, emphasizing height, shadow, and structural repetition.
The unglazed bisque porcelain is essential to the success of the design. Its velvety surface absorbs light rather than reflecting it, allowing the relief structures to emerge quietly through depth and shadow. This tactile restraint places the trio firmly within the broader modernist dialogue of material honesty, sculptural purity, and reduced form.
The ensemble works beautifully within mid-century modern, minimalist, Bauhaus-inspired, Japandi, brutalist, and contemporary interiors.
About Scherzer Bavaria
Founded in Bavaria in 1880, Scherzer became known for combining traditional German porcelain craftsmanship with increasingly progressive modernist aesthetics throughout the postwar decades. During the 1960s and 1970s, the company produced a number of highly sculptural bisque porcelain series that reflected contemporary movements such as Op Art, geometric abstraction, and architectural modernism.
Today, these matte porcelain forms are increasingly appreciated by collectors for their refined restraint and strong sculptural presence.
Details
Manufacturer: Scherzer Bavaria, Germany
Series: 515
Models: 515-1, 515-2, 515-3
Period: ca. late 1960s–1970s
Material: White bisque porcelain
Finish: Matte / unglazed
Design Style: Mid-Century Modern / Op Art / Geometric Modernism
Dimensions
Model 515-3
Height: approx. 24 cm
Model 515-2
Height: approx. 21 cm
Model 515-1
Height: approx. 11.5 cm
Width: approx. 11 cm
Depth: approx. 3.5 cm
Condition
All three vases are in excellent vintage condition with only minimal traces of age and handling consistent with careful ownership. No chips, cracks, or repairs.
A highly sophisticated and visually complete modernist porcelain ensemble — increasingly difficult to find as a full matching set.
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 goodColorsWhiteMaterialPorcelainNumber of items2StyleVintageHeight24 cmWidth9 cmDepth7 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales