Contemporary German Ceramics

ermany has a very strong tradition of ceramics. It was there that salt-glazing was invented and where Böttger found the recipe for European porcelain. German porcelain manufacturers (e.g. Rosenthal or Meissen) have gained international recognition, if not prominence.

However, Germany's ceramic tradition has also been very strong in the area of the studio potter, with many well-known potter artists such as Hedwig Bollhagen, Rainer Doss, Beate Kuhn and many others. The following is a selection of German ceramists represented on the Net.

Ursula Scheid's work reflects the German design aesthetic, with a tendency to precise forms, geometry and line work, and yet her forms have a great sense of fluidity and balance about them.

Astrid Gerhartz has been making a name for herself working in fine porcelain, often decorated with water soluble metal salts. Her more recent work has been influenced more by expression through form. In particular Gerhartz has been exploring with functional wares inspired by Japanese pottery and cuisine.

Karin Jungbluth has a neatly designed homepage with buttons linking to biographical info, a photo gallery, an exhibitions and market page and a links page. Karin makes ceramic objects for the garden and other ceramic sculptures and vessels, mainly in earthenware.

Brigitte Heinsohn makes figurative ceramic sculptures, works in relief, and fountains, amongst other things.

Dorothee Wenz creates whimsical figures with colorful monochrome decorations and wheel thrown and altered vessels. Her work earnt her third prize in the 1997 CerCon Awards.

Karin Beer creates soft, organic, often humanoid forms. Thumbnails on her site lead to enlargements with explanations of materials and techniques, sizes etc. Most of her work is glazed.

Fritz Bleichert's raku sculptures are also humanoid, but in a quite different way. His tall-standing figures are loosely abstracted but the human form is still quite recognizable. Again, thumbnails lead to individual pages with details on the works.

Silvia Zimmermann also shares a fascination with the human form. Her interpretation of it is a more naturalistic one. Her handbuilt figurines are partly glazed, partly unglazed. Silvia also makes vases, bowls and other objects and makes some work in raku.

Ulla Braunweiler is another German artist working in the tradition of raku. Although Ulla sees herself as a 'hobby potter', she has had an exhibition of raku works, which was held in Mannheim, Germany. She has also worked with paper kilns, and pit-firing.

Having trouble understanding the lingo? Why don't you try out the Multilingual Ceramics Dictionary, brought to you by Edouard Bastarache and friends.

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