Viktor Schreckengost
American, 1906-2008
The son of a commercial potter in Sebring, Ohio, Viktor Schreckengost learned the craft of sculpting in clay from his father. In the mid-1920s, he enrolled at the Cleveland School of Art (now the Cleveland Institute of Art, or CIA) to study cartoon making, but after seeing an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art he changed his focus to ceramics. Upon graduation in 1929, he studied ceramics in Vienna, Austria, where he began to build a reputation, not only for his art, but also as a jazz saxophonist. A year later, at the age of 25, he became the youngest faculty member at the CIA. In 1931, Schreckengost won the first of several awards for excellence in ceramics at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and his works were shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, and elsewhere.
By the mid-1930s, Schreckengost had begun to pursue his interest in industrial design. For American Limoges, he created the first modern mass-produced dinnerware, called Americana. Along with engineer Ray Spiller, Schreckengost designed the first-cab-over-engine truck for Cleveland's White Motor Company. By the end of the decade, he had designed the first Mercury Bicycle for Murray, Ohio. In 1939, the bicycle and "The Four Elements" in clay were displayed at the New York World's Fair.
In the 1940s, Schreckengost's designs for children's pedal cars (as well as bicycles and toys) helped Murray, Ohio become the world's largest manufacturer of pedal cars. His design and ceramic work was interrupted by World War II, when he was recruited by the Navy to develop a system for radar recognition that won him the Secretary of Navy's commendation.
After the war, Schreckengost resumed his industrial design career creating products for Murray, Sears, General Electric, Salem China Company, and Harris Printing, among others. Approximately 100 million of his bicycles were manufactured by Murray, making it the largest bicycle-maker in the world. He retired from industrial design in 1972, but continued teaching at the Cleveland Institute of Art.
Biography from the Archives of askART In June, 2006, Viktor Schreckengost celebrated his 100th birthday in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Of him at this event, it was written: Viktor Schreckengost, a prolific designer whose works ranging from toys, ceramics and paintings to dinnerware and trucks, have touched countless lives, expects his next inspiration to come at any time. . . (he) always seemed to know what to create by responding to needs---like improving the ride of a child's wagon or making user-friendly tableware with an artistic flair."
To recognize his birthday, more than 130 galleries and museums featured his work the summer of 2006 in a "National Centennial Exhibition" that paid tribute to his legacy that "includes generations of students who became designers who shaped the output of industrial America in the post World-War II era."
In February 2008, Victor Schreckengost died at age 101 at Tallahassee, Florida, where he was spending the winter.to
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Pair of Vintage Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost Chinoiserie Table Lamps
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Chicago, IL
A period early pair of Viktor Schreckengost table lamps stylized in the asian / oriental taste.
Places well into interiors of deco, hollywood regency, mid century modern, Paul Fr...
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Early 20th Century American Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost
Materials
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Art Deco Chrome Lamp and Shade Designed by Viktor Schreckengost
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Pasadena, TX
Table lamp designed by Viktor Schreckengost for Colonial Premier lamp
Viktor Schreckengost was an American industrial designer as well as a t...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Viktor Schreckengost
Materials
Chrome
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Vintage Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost Chinoiserie (China man) Floor Lamp
By Colonial Premier Lamp Co., Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost Chinoiserie (China man) Floor Lamp,,, Super stylized.. Classic Art Deco design.. Hollywood Regency / Asian Modernist.. Nice original condition,,...
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1930s American Art Deco Vintage Viktor Schreckengost
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Pair of Vintage Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost Chinoiserie Floor Lamps
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Vintage Deco Viktor Schreckengost Chinoiserie Floor Lamps
A really nice period example of this stylized chinoiserie design. In the manner of Hollywood Regency and Oriental /...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost
Materials
Metal
Golf (Wall Plaque)
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Golf (Wall Plaque)
Polychromed ceramic, c. 1930-1
Signed with the artist's initials: VS recto
Very rare, only a few produced prior to the closure of Cowan Pottery
Format: Round ceramic plate, 11 1/4 inches
Designed by the artist while working for Cowan Pottery in 1930. One of Cowan's clients, an interior designer, requested plates decorated with different outdoor activities. Others in the series included "Swimming," "Tennis," "Polo," and "The Hunt."
According to Henry Adams, the number of examples created was very limited due to the closing of Cowan Pottery in 1931. Very rare
Condition: Good, with the usual craquelure of the glazes used.
Note: Industrial design democratizes high style, and Mr. Schreckengost was widely considered among the most democratic industrial designers. He made, quite literally, the stuff of life — things found routinely in homes, backyards and garages in this country and around the world. He designed bicycles for Sears and everyday china for American Limoges...
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1930s Art Deco Viktor Schreckengost
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Ceramic
Mayan, Large 20th Century Watercolor, Cleveland School, Viktor Schreckengost
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Beachwood, OH
Viktor Schreckengost (American, 1906-2008)
Mayan
Watercolor heightened with gouache over pencil on paper
Signed lower right
39 x 29 inches
45.5 x 35.5 inches, framed
Registered with The Viktor Schreckengost foundation, stock no. 6891
The son of a commercial potter in Sebring, Ohio, Viktor Schreckengost learned the craft of sculpting in clay from his father. In the mid-1920s, he enrolled at the Cleveland School of Art (now the Cleveland Institute of Art, or CIA) to study cartoon making, but after seeing an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art he changed his focus to ceramics. Upon graduation in 1929, he studied ceramics in Vienna, Austria, where he began to build a reputation, not only for his art, but also as a jazz saxophonist. A year later, at the age of 25, he became the youngest faculty member at the CIA. In 1931, Schreckengost won the first of several awards for excellence in ceramics at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and his works were shown at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, and elsewhere.
By the mid-1930s, Schreckengost had begun to pursue his interest in industrial design. For American Limoges...
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20th Century American Modern Viktor Schreckengost
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Watercolor, Gouache
Viktor Schreckengost Vase with Fish Cowan Pottery
By Cowan Pottery, Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Chicago, IL
Viktor Schreckengost Vase with Fish for Cowan Pottery
Drypoint decorated glazed earthenware
Size : 6½ h × 5½ w in
Impressed studio mark to underside ‘Cowan’.
Literature: Cowan Potter...
Category
1930s American Vintage Viktor Schreckengost
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Earthenware
Polo (Wall Plaque)
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Polo (Wall Plaque)
Polychromed ceramic, c. 1930-1931
Signed with the artist's initials: VS recto
Cowan Pottery stamp verso
References And Exhibitions:
Designed by the artist while working for Cowan Pottery in 1930. One of Cowan's clients, an interior designer, requested plates decorated with different outdoor activities. Others in the series included "Swimming," "Tennis," "Golf," and "The Hunt."
Condition: with the usual craquelure
Size: 11 1/4 inches in diameter
Industrial design democratizes high style, and Mr. Schreckengost was widely considered among the most democratic industrial designers. He made, quite literally, the stuff of life — things found routinely in homes, backyards and garages in this country and around the world. He designed bicycles for Sears and everyday china for American Limoges. He designed children’s toys and pedal cars; flashlights, furniture and fans; lawn chairs, lawn mowers...
Category
1930s American Modern Viktor Schreckengost
Materials
Ceramic
Viktor Schreckengost Styled Fiberglass Horse Bust on Hardwood Base
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Viktor Schreckengost-styled fiberglass maroon horse bust on a hardwood base.
Dimensions:
-Sculpture-
Height: 26"
Width: 16"
Depth: 5"
-With Base-
Height: 26"
Width: 20"
Depth: 16.5"
Category
1970s American Art Deco Vintage Viktor Schreckengost
Materials
Fiberglass, Hardwood
$862 Sale Price
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Darkness Below - Abstract Marine Scene in Cobalt Blue with Colorful Accents
By Viktor Schreckengost
Located in Miami, FL
Viktor Schreckengost paints an ocean scene and moon with precise attention. The painting is part document and part flat abstraction. The uniqueness in this work is how Schreckengos...
Category
1970s Abstract Geometric Viktor Schreckengost
Materials
Watercolor, Illustration Board, Acrylic
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Viktor Schreckengost furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Viktor Schreckengost furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Viktor Schreckengost furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Viktor Schreckengost were created in the Art Deco style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Leroy C. Doane, Faries Lamp Co., and Boyd Lighting. Prices for Viktor Schreckengost furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $2,000 and can go as high as $6,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,225.