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Studio Ceramic Vase “Albert '91” Expressive Hand-Painted Postmodern Art Pottery
€399€299-25%Bid from €249
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Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 27 sales
Product description
Studio Ceramic Vase “Albert '91” – Expressive Hand-Painted Postmodern Art Pottery, Germany, 1991
A bold and highly individual studio ceramic vase signed "Albert '91" on the unglazed terracotta base. This one-of-a-kind piece perfectly captures the spirit of late twentieth-century studio ceramics, when clay increasingly became a canvas for artistic expression and vessels evolved into autonomous sculptural objects.
Combining an architectural form with an exuberantly painterly surface, the vase stands as a compelling example of postmodern art pottery from the early 1990s.
Design & Form
The sharply tapered, trapezoidal body possesses the presence of a small monolith—angular, architectural, and distinctly postmodern in character. Despite its strong geometry, the form never feels rigid. Chamfered edges and subtly shifting diagonals introduce a sense of lift and movement, giving the object a dynamic, almost animated quality.
At 28.5 cm in height, the vase commands attention as a sculptural statement piece, equally effective with or without flowers.
Surface & Glaze
The glossy obsidian-black glaze serves as a dramatic ground for sweeping, gestural brushstrokes in ochre, soft butter-yellow, slate grey-blue, and terracotta tones.
Each side of the vase presents a different abstract composition, as though the object had been turned repeatedly within an artist's studio and painted from every angle. The surface is spontaneous, confident, and unmistakably hand-executed.
The aesthetic recalls the expressive vitality of the late 1980s and early 1990s, drawing parallels with the Neue Wilde movement, post-Expressionist painting, and the studio ceramic renaissance that blurred the boundaries between vessel, sculpture, and painting.
Artist & Attribution
The unglazed base bears the hand-written signature "Albert 91". While the precise identity of the artist remains unknown, the quality of execution suggests an experienced studio potter working within the Central European art-ceramics tradition.
The combination of architectural form and painterly glaze aligns closely with developments in German and Austrian studio pottery of the late twentieth century, when ceramic artists increasingly embraced abstraction and expressive surface treatments.
Dimensions
Height: 28.5 cm
Approximate Footprint: 20 × 20 cm
Material
Terracotta clay with glossy multicolour glazes
Origin
Probably Germany or Central Europe
Date
1991
Condition
Excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks, or structural damage observed. Minor glaze irregularities are inherent to hand-painted studio ceramics and should be regarded as part of the artistic process.
Why This Piece Stands Out
• Unique, signed studio ceramic from 1991
• Powerful postmodern architectural form
• Expressive hand-painted abstract decoration
• Strong connections to Neue Wilde and post-Expressionist aesthetics
• One-of-a-kind object combining vessel and sculpture
• Ideal for collectors of studio pottery, postmodern design, and abstract art
• Equally effective as a decorative object or standalone sculptural statement
Collector's Note
This is not merely a vase—it is a ceramic painting in three dimensions. Its dramatic form and expressive surface give it a remarkable presence that changes with light and viewpoint. Whether displayed alone or integrated into a collection of postmodern design and studio ceramics, it remains an object of striking individuality and artistic confidence.
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
ConditionExcellentColorsMulti Color, BlackMaterialCeramicNumber of items1Height28 cmWidth20 cmDepth20 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 27 sales