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 Abstract Expressionist Studio Ceramic Vase
By Paul Soldner
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Paul Soldner (1921-2010) abstract expressionist pottery vase. Glaze in black and brown, partly unglazed. Excellent design, mint condition. Signed Soldner on the bottom. Measures: 10" H x 8 3/4" W. Paul Soldner (1921-2011) was an American ceramic artist, noted for his experimentation with the 16th...
Clay
American Raku Pottery Vessel by Paul Soldner
By Paul Soldner
Located in Atlanta, GA
A modern pottery vessel by American potter Paul Soldner (1921-2011) circa 1960s. Paul Soldner is renowned for his dedication to develop and further Raku firing in American pottery fi...
Pottery
Large Modernist Raku Fired Abstract Pottery Vase by Tony Evans
By Tony Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Large abstract form raku fired ceramic vase on lucite base by renowned master ceramicist Tony Evans (1942-2009). Evans developed a very distinctive style after studying ancient potte...
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Overscale Organic Raku Studio Pottery Vase with Textures, 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Overscale Organic Raku Studio Pottery Vase with Textures, 1980s Offered for sale is an impressive and extremely large 1980s Raku studio pottery vase. The vase has an organic...
Pottery
Raku Fired Vessel by Tony Evans Designs
By Tony Evans
Located in Denton, TX
Evan's distinctive style of raku pottery produced interesting fired and burnt glazes, both gloss and matte, that emulate patina, oxidation and verdigris, signed and labeled.
Clay
American Indian Michael Hawley Pottery Vessel
Located in Dallas, TX
A fabulous Michael Hawley, Chakoptewa pottery vessel made using traditional Hopi methods. Michael Hawley, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is the only living potter today creating true Siky...
Clay, Paint
$255
H 3.5 in Dm 3.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Black & Blue American Raku Vase, Vessel Studio Art Pottery 80
Located in Miami, FL
Round American Raku Mid-Century Modern inside glazed handcrafted blue and black vase, or vessel. The Studio Art Pottery is two textured vase. A-74...
Clay, Pottery
Tony Evans Raku Pottery Circa 1970
By Tony Evans
Located in Wheat Ridge, CO
Stunning large Tony Evans Raku pottery / vase / vessel signed and numbered "Evans 165". This is an absolutely beautiful piece made by the renowned ceramicist Tony Evans (1942-2009)...
Pottery
Andrew Berends Raku Art Pottery Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
The Brendan Bass Estate Collection pays homage to the beauty of vintage and antique pieces, each artfully concealing endless stories collected through the generations in which they ...
Pottery
Vintage Raku Fired Vessel
Located in Denton, TX
Organic modern Raku fired hand sculpted vessel with colors of green, red, gray and textured glaze that shimmers in the light. stamped at the bottom.
Clay
Paul Morris for Rock Hard Salt Glaze Vase, American Art Studio Pottery
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Striking Modernist vase in salt and drip glaze is decorated with abstract design of a running horse in espresso brown textured drip glaze and semi-transparent white glaze on speckled chocolate brown background; the foot of the vase is done in lightly textured brown and white glaze. The inner surfaces are finished in lightly speckled brown glaze. Powerful, expressive design is enhanced by the textured elements of the glaze, and minimal vase...
Ceramic, Pottery
Large Signed Native American Style Raku Pottery Vase
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Large signed Native American style 2 tone crackle glaze hand thrown Raku pottery vase Approximate measurements in inches 14" high x 13" wide ...
Ceramic, Pottery
Paul Soldner California Studio Stoneware Pottery Vase
By Paul Soldner
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A spouted stoneware bottleneck vase with tenmoku glaze created by Paul Soldner of Claremont, California, circa 1960. Vase stands 9 1/8" in height and is signed Soldner on the bottom....
Stoneware
Vintage Japanese Studio Ceramic Vase
Located in Oakland, CA
Absolutely stunning Japanese ceramic studio glazed vase with original box. Dreamy purple lavender glaze with hints of greens. Expertly crafted, unknown artist. Fully signed on box an...
Clay
Sold
H 14.5 in W 9 in D 5 in
Paul Soldner Signed Large Raku Fired Mid-Century Modern Vessel Sculpture Vase
By Paul Soldner
Located in Studio City, CA
A rather unique and special piece by renowned American potter Paul Soldner who in the 1950s was Peter Voulkos' first student and later became famed for developing the technique now known as "American Raku", a practice of using low temperature salt firing...
Earthenware