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Till Sudeck Studio Ceramic Vase – Monumental Hand-Thrown Stoneware – Germany, ca. 1970s–1980s
€490Bid from €449
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About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales
Product description
Till Sudeck Studio Ceramic Vase – Monumental Hand-Thrown Stoneware – Germany, ca. 1970s–1980s
A sculptural and deeply atmospheric studio ceramic vase by German ceramic artist Till Sudeck, whose work occupies a compelling intersection between postwar European studio pottery, Japanese ceramic philosophy, and the meditative restraint of Zen-influenced form.
This tall hand-thrown vessel is executed in a dramatic palette of volcanic black, earthy brown, olive-beige, and warm ivory glazes flowing organically across the surface like geological strata or ink washes on parchment. The glaze transitions possess an almost accidental naturalism, recalling ash deposits, scorched landscapes, or mineral formations shaped by fire rather than by human hand. Such effects are central to Sudeck’s artistic language, where kiln process and controlled unpredictability become active collaborators in the final composition.
The silhouette itself is elegant and architectural: a slender flaring stem supporting a softly swelling cup-shaped upper body. The form evokes both ceremonial vessels and East Asian flower vases, while simultaneously retaining the grounded physicality of German studio stoneware traditions of the 1960s and 1970s.
Till Sudeck (born 1926 in Aumühle) followed an unusually intellectual path into ceramics. Between 1958 and 1962 he studied psychology and Sinology in Paris, where his engagement with Japanese ceramics and Zen Buddhism led him toward pottery as a practical and philosophical discipline. He later studied form and glaze techniques at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg under the influential ceramic artist and educator Jan Bontjes van Beek. In the mid-1960s he operated a communal workshop with Christine Atmer de Reig near Hamburg, and in 1985 undertook further study in Japan — an experience that deepened the East Asian sensibility already visible throughout his work.
Unlike purely decorative ceramics, Sudeck’s vessels possess a contemplative presence. They are less “objects” than quiet spatial events — pieces that transform depending on light, shadow, and surrounding architecture.
Details
Artist: Till Sudeck
Origin: Germany
Period: ca. 1970s–1980s
Material: Hand-thrown studio ceramic / stoneware
Glaze: Brown, black, beige, olive and ivory flowing glazes
Finish: Satin to semi-gloss
Dimensions
Height: 27.5 cm
Diameter: approx. 13 cm
Condition
Very good vintage condition with minor traces of age and studio production irregularities consistent with handcrafted ceramics. No major damages or restorations observed.
An exceptional example of German postwar studio pottery, combining European modernist restraint with the philosophical and aesthetic influence of Japanese ceramic traditions.
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.
Private sale under law: no returns, refunds, or warranties.
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsBeige, Brown, Multi Color, Creme, BlackMaterialCeramicNumber of items1Height27 cmWidth13 cmDepth13 cm
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Seller information
About this seller
Private sellerBerlin, GermanyOn Whoppah since August 2023 • 25 sales