After studying under Peter Voulkos at the Los Angeles County Art Institute, Denver native Paul Soldner (1921–2011) became a pottery professor there in the 1960s, when the revolutionary California Clay Movement took root.
Soldner pioneered American-style raku firing methods, experimental updates of the centuries-old Japanese process, which involve pulling red-hot sculptures out of the kiln to be bathed in smoke or dipped in cold water, resulting in beautifully frazzled glazes.
“These new firing and post-firing reduction methods often led to spontaneous, unpredictable and quite wonderful results,” says Greg Nielson, of Dwell Floor Five, in Studio City, California.
Soldner’s raku vases, for instance, with their charred surfaces, seem to smile humbly through the scars of their past adversity.
Alongside the likes of Toshiko Takaezu, Soldner innovated chunky, funky ceramics in the mid-century and beyond. He is one Voulkos student at whom enthusiasts should take a serious look, advises dealer Jayson Lawfer.
The owner of The Nevica Project, a gallery with venues in Chicago and Kansas City, Lawfer explains that Soldner “was a master of raku and was credited with bringing the historic Asian technique to the U.S.” He adds that “Soldner used simple techniques of throwing pottery on the wheel, but to make his sculptural forms more interesting, he also pressed burlap into the clay and stepped on it to give it different textures."
Find Paul Soldner pottery for sale on 1stDibs.
Paul Soldner Signed Large Modern Pottery Raku Slab Charger Wall Relief Sculpture
By Paul Soldner
Located in Studio City, CA
An amazing and unique piece by renowned American pottery and ceramic master Paul Soldner who in the 1950s was Peter Voulkos' first student and who later became famed for developing the technique now known as "American Raku" - a practice of using low temperature salt firing...
Earthenware
Paul Soldner Large Mid-Century Pottery Raku Slab Charger Wall Relief Sculpture
By Paul Soldner
Located in Studio City, CA
An amazing and unique piece by renowned American pottery and ceramic master Paul Soldner who in the 1950s was Peter Voulkos' first student and who later became famed for developing the technique now known as "American Raku...
Earthenware
$891
H 6.3 in W 5.52 in D 1.97 in
Abstract Tree Brown Ceramic Freeform circa 1970 Stoneware Pottery La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Abstract ceramic form with brown pottery glaze, circa 1970. Elegant colors. Realized in La Borne. Excellent original condition. Dimension: 16 x 14 x 5 cm.
Ceramic
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 5.75 in W 5 in D 3 in
Pair of Mid Century 1950s Howard Pierce Ceramic Quail Bird Sculpture Figurine
Located in San Diego, CA
Iconic pair of Howard Pierce ceramic quail bird figurines/sculptures dating from the 1950s. These are an iconic design. Great color and form. The larger ...
Ceramic
$450
H 5.91 in W 1.97 in D 1.58 in
Mexican Nativity Set Folk Art Ceramic Christmas Decoration Pottery Sculptures
By Aurelio Martinez Flores
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Folkloric ceramic nativity set decorated in Tonalá, Jalisco, México. Beautifully hand painted. Handmade in clay. Includes 14 figures. The figures are first handmade in clay and burned in a wood burned oven at low temperature, then painted with acrylic paint and decorated manually. Mexican folk art...
Ceramic
Tonala Folk Art Bird Mexican Hand Painted Colorful Pottery 1960s
By Tonala Pottery
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted Flying Bird, Mexico, circa 1960's. Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art. Flora de la Cruz ...
Ceramic
Mid Century Modern Ceramic Lion Figurine in Brown
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A ceramic lioness figurine glazed in brown and cream. This mid-century statue will be a fabulous addition to a bookshelf or side table. Created from ce...
Ceramic, Paint
$295
H 3.75 in W 2.63 in D 1.88 in
Antique Miniature Staffordshire Pottery Spaniel Dog Figurine with Confetti Fur
By Staffordshire
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English Staffordshire pottery figurine. Depicting a seated Spaniel. With confetti fur and painted black highlights. Simply a wonderful Staffordshire dog figurine...
Pottery
Pottery Pear Sculpture with Raku Glaze
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pottery pear sculpture or object of art featuring a distinctive raku style glaze. Signed by noted pottery artist Steven Forbes-deSoule on the b...
Pottery
Mid Century Large Studio Pottery Vase, USA 1960s
Located in La Teste-de-Buch, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Large studio glazed earthenware vase. Quality american mid century modern work. Outstanding glaze.
Vintage Hand-Painted Mexican Tonala Pottery Bird Sculpture, 1950
By Tonala Pottery
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Mexican Tonala hand painted pottery bird Folk Art. Flora de la Cruz Acapulco Gro Mexico hand painted bird dove ceramic. Warm earth tone polych...
Ceramic, Pottery
Large Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Munich, DE
Creative phantasy sculpture signed by the artist
Ceramic
$1,366
H 12.6 in W 18.9 in D 5.91 in
Ceramic Sculpture with a Group of Playing Putti's 19th Century Belgium
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful in detail and charming 19th century unglazed terracotta sculpture. Features a design of three cherubic children with lamps and fruit, playing with two goats on the base of ...
Terracotta
Large American Studio Pottery Bowl with Turquoise Glaze, Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
A striking large American studio pottery bowl featuring an elegant low, wide form and richly layered glazing. The interior is finished in luminous turquoise and sea-green tones with ...
Pottery, Stoneware
Bronze 'Vessel' by Paul Soldner
By Paul Soldner
Located in Dallas, TX
Paul Soldner (April 24, 1921 – January 3, 2011) is known primarily as a ceramicist and for his pioneering work in the traditional Japanese firing technique of raku, In this rare, bea...
Bronze
Paul Soldner Raku Vessel
By Paul Soldner
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a Paul Soldner( 1921-2011) 1970s raku vessel
Ceramic, Lucite