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How do you identify West German pottery?
1 Answer

To identify West German pottery, look on the bottom or interior for markings. Many pieces will have markings with the words "West Germany.” Others may instead or also have markings with the maker's name. By researching the maker's mark, you can determine whether the manufacturer was a West German company. Well-known West German pottery manufacturers include Scheurich, ES Keramik, Ceramano and Ruscha. Some pottery also has an item or piece number on it; this can be used to learn more about your piece's age, style or line name and other characteristics. If you can't find any markings on your piece, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer help you with identifying it. On 1stDibs, shop a large collection of West German pottery.
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
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Shop for West German Pottery on 1stDibs
Dümler & Breiden Ceramic Cachepot with Sgraffito Décor, 1950s
By Dümler & Breiden, West German Pottery
Located in Valencia, VC
Large Dümler & Breiden West German Ceramic Bowl / Cachepot with Sgraffito Décor, 1950s
A very beautiful and sculptural large ceramic bowl or cachepot by Dümler & Breiden, ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Planters, Cachepots and Jardi...
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware, Terracotta
$499 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage West German Ceramic Floor Lamp, Red, Double Lighting, 1970s
By West German Pottery
Located in London, England
Discover this elegant ceramic floor lamp, an iconic piece of West Germany in the 1970s. Its vintage design and vibrant red color bring a touch of warmth and character to any interior...
Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Materials
Enamel
Mid-Century Ceramic Jug Vase by Ceramano, Blue Glaze, West Germany
By West German Pottery, Ceramano
Located in Valencia, VC
Ultra Modern Mid-Century Large Ceramic Jug Vase by Ceramano, c. 1960s, West Germany
A striking and rare large ceramic handled jug vase by cult German ceramics workshop Ceramano, han...
Category
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware
$535 Sale Price
30% Off
Pair of West German Bay Keramiek Vases, Art Deco Revival, 1980s
By Bay Keramik, West German Pottery
Located in Valencia, VC
Beautiful Pair of West German Bay Keramiek Art Pottery Vases, Post-Modern / Art Deco Revival, 1980s
A very beautiful pair of West German art pottery vases by the renowned ceramic ma...
Category
Vintage 1980s German Art Deco Vases
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Earthenware
$447 Sale Price / set
20% Off
1963 Modernist Blue and Gray Ceramic German Vase by Carstens Tonnieshof
By West German Pottery, Carstens Tönnieshof
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A blue and gray ceramic big vase designed and manufactured in Germany by Carstens Tonnieshof, it's in perfect condition and marked on the bottom. This Vase by Carstens Tönnieshof fea...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Jasba Aztec Exotica Set of 3 Vases, West German Pottery 1960s
By Jasba, West German Pottery, Jasba Keramik
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The set of 3 vintage Jasba Keramik vases from the 'Aztec' and 'Mexiko' or 'Maya Tiki' lines of their Exotica series features relief decor, influenced by ancient Pre-Columbian civilizations. The sculptural vases in the set interpret traditional vessel forms like a pitcher in a contemporary vein while referencing Pre-Columbian art with an eclectic twist. The vases are decorated with tone-on-tone ochre brown matte glazes on the outer surfaces and semi-matte black glazes on inner surfaces, allowing the complex reliefs to dominate the composition.
The vases feature a central wide band of brutalist, rhythmically spaced mythic animals, derived from archaeology or from a wide range of Folk Art sources. The handles are interpreted not as functional parts of the design, but as an important aesthetic feature that was commonly used by West German pottery designers and artists in context of Krug Vase (Jug Vase, or Handled Vase) for their expressive possibilities. In this set, the small handles on two Aztec vases...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Vases
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery


