GERMAN CERAMICS

Germany claims for itself the discovery of the art of pottery-making so far back as the year 1278 are executed in this manner, covered with a green glaze, dating from the middle of the sixteenth century. Throughout Germany, wherever we find the glass painters, there we also find some one of them engaged upon pottery work.

THE EARLY PERIOD

Hirschvogels, of Franconia, are a fair example of those who extended their work in this direction. Veit, the elder of these, produced all his works by hand,without the aid of a mould; on this account his ornamental work is especially fine,-the green enamel seemed most his favorite, and his vases, beside being ornamented with grotesques and acanthus leaves in relief, occasionally have portrait medallions upon them.

At least one element of the German character had considerable influence over their pottery work. Perhaps no nation on the earth has produced more pots, mugs, canettes and jugs, than Germany. These were produced mostly in the grescerame, or stoneware. This ware was of ancient Eastern origin, and was first produced among the western countries in Germany.

If the capacity of the German stomach were to be judged by jugs, it would be easy to find a reason why the ware of these forms was so exceedingly popular. They were termed "bearded jugs," or " bearded-men " (Barmanekes), for the reason that all of them were ornamented by at least one head of a man, with a flowing beard in relief. The ware itself is of very close texture, grayish and not porous; having been subjected to high heat, it is somewhat vitreous, and consequently impregnable to liquids.

During the 17th century in Europe, Chinese and Japanese were highly esteemed, and although they were imported in ever-increasing quantities throughout the century, Europeans did not know the ingredients necessary for the production of true porcelain. 

No-one had ever seen such white semi-translucent pottery. People paid high prices for it and, despite many trials; the secret of its manufacture was still unknown at the beginning of the 18th century. Johann Friedrich Bottger made various experiments and created a high-fired red stoneware.

Several technological advances then lead to the invention of porcelain; which also then lead to the discovery of the creamy white porcelain or Bottger porcelain. 

THE LATER PERIOD

West German Pottery

is a name given to pottery made in West Germany during the 50s, 60s and 70s — an era viewed as something of a Golden Age of ceramics where potters experimented with colour, glaze and shape.   

Sculptural shapes, tactile designs and painterly qualities combine to create a range of ceramics that is genuinely striking.

• West German pottery comes in some hugely distinctive shapes, styles and colour schemes that are unique to this period of production. The most famous of these looks is probably the unmistakable Fat Lava style.
• West German ceramic artists challenged ideas about handles. No longer something that was simply attached at the end, handles changed shape, size and position in this era, at times with dramatic effect.
• West German pottery is famed for the use of bold, bright colours. Often offset against the black pumice lava glaze, these pieces are great way to add accents into neutral décor schemes.

Sources:

History of German Pottery. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2016, from http://www.oldandsold.com/articles04/pottery15.shtml

A Guide to West German Pottery. (2016). Retrieved December 10, 2016, from https://everythingbutthedog.eu/pages/a-guide-to-west-german-pottery

Munger, J. (2003, October). German and Austrian Porcelain in the Eighteenth Century. Retrieved December 10, 2016, from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/porg/hd_porg.htm