Stunning and Rare Vintage Mid Century West Germany Pottery Lidded and Single-Handled Decanter Bottle in Olive Green with Fish and Cross Symbols by Streuler, Pre 1960's

I am continuing my effort to downsize as unfortunately we will have to move all our belongings into temporary storage due to builders carrying out major remediation works to our brand new home.
I’m trying to minimize the pain by reducing the amount of packing required to be done!

I’ve quite a few eclectic items of décor which I am currently displaying, and bring me joy, but as everything has to go back into storage again, some things needs to go!!!
Latest on the chopping block are some random mid-century ceramics and barware

For Sale here is a Stunning and Rare Vintage Mid Century West Germany Pottery Lidded and Single-Handled Decanter Bottle in Olive Green with Fish and Cross Symbols by Streuler, Pre 1960’s

West German pottery’s golden age lasted from about 1954-1975. During that period, when creativity and production was at its height, a select group of ceramic studios produced a body of work that was mind-blowing in it's scope and range. Even today, this output has yet to be appreciated or fully catalogued. An impressive number of pieces were hand-thrown, but the majority were mass-produced. Still, the way in which the rough-finish and lava glazes were applied and fired, lends an air of individuality to even high-production pieces. By the mid 70’s, demand and production was beginning to wane, primarily due to challenging global economic conditions and by 1975, the pottery party was over!

Steuler Keramik, founded in 1917 in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany, became renowned for its distinctive ceramic production, especially during the mid-20th century. Under the guidance of influential designers like Cari Zalloni and Kurt Schröder, Steuler earned recognition for its innovative and artistic pottery during the 1950s and 60s. The company was known for producing striking mid-century modern ceramics with bold patterns, geometric designs, and various unique glazes. Their creations are highly collectible today, particularly pieces from the Fat Lava era and modernist designs. Steuler Karmik initially produced their items in a reddish clay, up to the early 1960s, then switching to white clay.

The backstamp on this lovely bottle or decanter is very difficult to see or identify, as it can only be slightly seen from an angle in sunlight, and was impossible to photograph. But the trusty internet came through for me, where there is only one example of the same piece (albeit missing it’s ceramic and cork lid!) It is on the respected Paster-Corté Mid-Century West German Pottery website and the piece is attributed to Steuler Keramik, see the last photo. As the base clay is red, rather than white, it is from the earlier period, pre early 1960’s.

The bottle or decanter, has a lovely olive colour matte stonelike glaze and is very tactile. The fish and cross decoration in black is incised in a band close to the bottom of the bottle, which also has one handle at the top. The lid is ceramic in the matching glaze, with the addition of a cork section. The interior of the bottle is glazed so suitable for holding a liquid, such as oil, vinegar, wine, water etc.

Given the subject matter of the decoration, with fish and crosses, I do wonder if this was produced as a religious item, possibly to be used as part of a mid-century Cruet and Tray set (for the water and the wine) as part of a mass or other religious ceremony. But this is just speculation on my part.

The bottle stands 9 inches/ 23cm tall including the lid. It is in excellent vintage condition for an item over 60 years old, with not chips or cracks, and even the cork section of the lid is in excellent undamaged condition.

A perfect gift for the collector of Mid-Century ceramics or West German ceramics. Such a rare and unusual example, and when would you see one again!
And good value too compared to the only other example available online, which is missing it’s lid and would need to be shipped from the US!! See the last photo.

Check out my other ads and more coming soon, including some more eclectic items surplus to my current requirements.

Check out my other items and more coming soon! Discounts possible for multiple purchases!