West German Images and Information on Ginfor's Odditiques:

Essay: Reputation, Reality, and Respect: Sorting Out West German Pottery (This is the longest, most in depth of the essays.)

Essay : A Devine and Delightful Madness: An Introduction to W. German Pottery (This is the most recent, most philosophical of the essays.)

You are Here-->: West German Pottery Marks (Pictures of various marks, bases, and labels)

Photo Gallery of West German items (pictures of items we've had in the past few years, divided by company when possible).

Companies, Potters, Designers (Information about some of the particular companies, studio potters, and designers active during the West German era.)

When asking questions:

1. It really, really helps if you send pictures of the item and the bottom (e-mail or snail mail is fine).

2. When sending pictures by e-mail, please try to keep the file size down. A resolution of 72 ppi is fine for viewing on a monitor.

3. If you get a message saying something about the e-mail or picture being rejected (happened recently), it's not us doing it. Too large a file or wrong file type is the most likely problem.

While this information is free, it is under copyright. We give permission for people to print a copy for personal use. Of course, quoting is always fine as long as proper credit is included.

While we may eventually do a book, any support for this part of the site is up to you. There's no obligation, but if you feel like you got enough value out of the essays, information, and pictures, we won't object if you make a small donation though Paypal. The cats like to know that we will be able to support them in the manner they have come to expect.

Thanks to one and all.

Forrest (the "for" part of ginfor)

The brown "pitcher" is the 313 form designed for Ruscha by Kurt Tschörner and introduced in 1954. It was produced for almost 30 years and is known in at least 50 distintinct glazes. On the right is a green pitcher by Jopeko in a smiliar form (though this version is smaller, known in a larger size as well). The Ruscha item is both more exaggerated and more elegant companred to the sturdier, more utilitarian look (still fun) of the Jopeko pitcher.

Note the three circle image on the label. You will sometimes find a similar image impressed or embossed on the bottom of Scheurich vases. I suspect such marks are later, not starting until the 1960's or 70's. I have seen such a mark on a Scheurich vase that probably dated to the 80's. Unfortunately, the company has not kept extensive records on when different marks or labels were used.

This is one of the ringware variations produced by Scheurich. It can be found in many sizes and glazes ranging from solid colors to some really odd and eye-popping combinations.

Here is another ringware form by Scheurich shown in two versions of a blue drip glaze.

Scheurich produced this glaze on a wide variety of shapes. The tone/shade of the background glaze varies broadly between browns and yellows. Also, the white waves have gold speckling, sometimes subtle, sometimes rather runny.

I call this the Willie Wonka glaze because it looks like caramel over dark chocolate. Both versions I've seen have the full Scheurich-Keramik name on the bottom, but even without that, you'll easily recognize the glaze every time.

Steuler Keramik

Steuler and Carstens appear to be among the few commercial German potteries who used a light red clay during this era, although many studio potteries used red clays in various shades (usually darker).

Steuler Keramik, same style as marked vase to the right

Steuler and Carstens appear to be among the few commercial German potteries who used a light red clay during this era, although many studio potteries used red clays in various shades (usually darker).

 
While the lettering is unclear, the shape shows this is a Strehla mark.

West Germany Marks Page One or Page Three

Art Pottery (American and European art pottery other than mid century items)

Pottery and Porcelain (Figurines, plates, vases, etc.)

Mid-Century Design (Mid Century pottery, currently featuring one of the best selections of studio and W. German pottery in the U.S.)

Studio Pottery (While many of these items can be found in other categories, they are also gathered here for those with a special interest in studio work.)

Glass (art glass, stemware, EAPG, Depression, Elegant, etc.)     

Metalware (Various metal items and misc. vases, inkwells, etc.)      

Paintings (oils, watercolors, prints, 19th and 20th century American and European)

Links

Pages About Us

Meet the Gin and the For

Meet the "staff"

The Corpurrate Story

Contact Information (Phone, etc.)

Essays and Information:

A Divine and Delightful Madness: An Intro to W. German Pottery (This is the most recent and most philosophical essay.)

Learning the Basics about West German Pottery (This is the most in depth essay.)

West German Pottery Marks

W. German Companies, Designers, and Studio Potters

West German Picture Gallery and Identification Aid (pictures of items we've had over the last 3 years)

To Buy or Not To
Buy:  Going Where
Price Guides End (thoughts about collecting, aesthetics, and health)

Get the Picture Straight: The Basics of Selling Glass and Pottery on the Internet (how to write item listings, matters of photography, etc.)

E-MAIL US

Ginfor's Odditiques (click to
return "home")

Pedagogy, Philosophy and Nonsense (my "other" site: writing, learning, and odd ideas like long hair and fairy god-princesses)