I’m not personally a huge fan of mid-century“fat lava” ceramics, termed such due to their thick, lava-like glazes, which can be a bit much for me—but I am a huge fan of this particular vase! The shape is fantastic and the yellow, green and peach are pretty terrific together, but I think it’s the graphic black lines that really make it, reminding me a bit of some of my favorite Picasso portraits, and a bit of Miro, too. This piece has a truly fantastic presence and object-hood; just really striking.
Unmarked, it is my guess that this piece is Italian rather than West German, though I am not 100% certain. The body of the vase is in perfect condition but there are a couple of little chips on the tiny lip (documented in photos, and I’ve priced it accordingly)—not visible if turned around, or filled with a bloom. It measures 7 3/4" tall x 5 1/2" at widest diameter, with a 2 1/4" diameter at base and 3/4" diameter at lip.
