Posted 9 years ago
vetraio50
(751 items)
A couple of days ago I came across this vase at Vinnies and it was whisked off back home to meet its bigger friend already posted here on CW. Up until now I had thought that the Lava Ceramics pieces were a design by Ragnar Kjartansson. I now am not so sure.
The Glit Pottery LLC was founded on June 10, 1958 by Einar Eliasson, a businessman; Pétur Saemundsen, then head of the Federation of Icelandic Industries and later head of the Industrial Bank (Ithnatharbanki); and Ragnar Kjartansson, sculptor and ceramic artist.
The pottery, operated at Othinsgata downtown Reykjavik until 1971, when the decision was made to expand the company and move its operations to Höfthi. The company’s time at Othnsgata is often referred to as the “Old Glit”, and the company as it operated at Höfthi called “The Big Glit.”
What interests me about this new piece is that it does not have an impressed mark and signature. But it has an old label that reads "Iceland 1972". The label is in English and is not a factory label ... it looks like a gallery label. But it suggests a date of 1972.
That puts this piece into the period called "The Big Glit".
Going back over my research I've realised that this piece may well not be a design by Ragnar Kjartansson but rather a design by Gerhard Schwarz.
In 2013 there was an exhibition of GLIT at Iceland's Museum of Design and Applied Art:
A GLIMPSE OF GLIT (8.2. – 26.5. 2013)
Production of Icelandic ceramic
"The exhibition “A Glimpse of Glit” includes many items from the Pottery, both from Othinsgata (where operations lasted between 1958-1971) as well as from Höfthi. The company’s physical move reflected the changing emphasis of its production, as it took place at the same time as artistic direction shifted from Ragnar Kjartansson to the German ceramic artist Gerhard Schwarz, who took over in 1968."
The quote above suggests to me that the Lava Ceramics pieces may well be the work of Schwarz rather than Kjartansson. The work in English and in Icelandic on the factory is pretty scant.
Perhaps others may know more about these wares?
I'm still waiting to come across a piece from the earlier period: Old Glit.
But for the moment I want to know a bit more about Gerhard Schwarz. All I have been able to find out so far is that his period at Glit was from 1968 til 1973. The search for more information goes on .....
The vase is 17 cm or 6.7" tall.
omg !!! so love these!!! stunning!!!
Many thanks SEAN !!!! The colour of this new one is very different!
Many thanks KYRATANGO !!!!!!!!
Many thanks VLADIMIR !!!!!'
Your very welcome Kevin , I have noticed the color is different in the new one you have !!
Many thanks IVONNE, AGHCOLLECT & MIKELV !!!!!!
I'm in awe. Of these vases and your research.
GLIT were unknown to me but aren't they fantastic!
True lava.
Thanks KAREN !! The Germans have their lava glazes ... the Vallauris French their foams .... but the Icelanders used real lava! Dangerous stuff too! The pieces can be extremely sharp! How it is done I am not so sure. The pieces are wheel thrown. I'm supposing the shape is formed and then the lava is added to the surface. It would be far too dangerous to handle this stuff on a spinning wheel !!! To do so would rip your hands to pieces!
Check out these three pieces I saw on the net. The blue vase is the most beautiful GLIT Lava I have seen! It is stunning! http://nannadis.com/blog/glit/
Many thanks KAREN, GARY 'n VIOLETORANGE too
Many thanks BLUNDERBUSS !!!!!
Beautiful! Looks like it comes from Pompei!
Many thanks DON !!!
Many thanks JEARVE !!!!!
Many thanks TREY !!!!!
Many thanks KERRY10456 !!!!!!!
How are you mate ???
Many thanks SMIATA !!!!!
WOW! These are fantastic forms textures and finishes.
Many thanks FLEDERMAUS for your kind comments !!!!!
Many thanks GARGOYLECOLLECTOR !!!!!!!
Many thanks HO2CULTCHA !!!!!!
I love lava vases Vetraio, most notably ones by Charles Lotton, but these take lava to a different and definitely more authentic level! I love them!!!!
Many thanks RICK ... these lava pieces are really dangerous round glass !!!!
HO kevin, very sorry i miss this one for some reason, vraiment un bel example LAVA Vase.
That's remind me, i found few more beautiful W,Germany Pottery, i will have to post them soon, of coarse there nothing to compare with that one, but still pretty.
Take care.
Alan
Many thanks ALAN !!!
Look forward to seeing the German lava pieces !!!!!!!
That blue one and your cranberry and bark ones would make a stunning group.
Oh I know why I thought so! Earth, that brown one, Water, the blue one, Fire, your red one. Yes, you will have to acquire a blue one. :)
I really want that blue one. It's amazing. Many thanks KATHERINESCOLLECTIONS !!!!!!!
Many thanks ROYCROFTBOOKSFROMME !!!!!!
Many thanks MARTY !!!!
Many thanks NORDICMAN & RADEGRUNDER too !!!!!!
Many thanks TWENTIETHCENTURY !!!!!!
Not bad Kevin at all you have been getting a few vases of late or showing them any rate thanks
Many thanks ZOWIE .... VASES HAVE I A FEW!!!
Many thanks JEWELS !!!!!!
Many thanks VIOLETORANGE !!!!!!!
I did once also all shapes & sizes colours & patterns they can have so many uses not just for flowers I hope you show some more. We finely have what looks like could be a dry day first in awhile but it keeps it nice & green. Stay safe good hunting & have a great day
You too Zowie .... just back from the Surry Hills Market monthly but nothing to show for it .... just some bad news about a couple of favourite stall holders who have passed recently.
That's never nice to here were they in a accident as I assume they are partners or am I wrong
I really, really love these ones!!!
Many thanks FREIHEIT 'n SARAHOFF !!!!!
Many thanks PETEY !!!!!
i'm jealous of these! i want to find some like them. they're really so cool!
Many thanks MELIG, HO2CULTCHA & ANTIQUEROSE too !!!!
I'm sure you'll find them in the States ... they are not often seen here in Oz !!!!!!
Many thanks COURTENAYANTIQUES !!!!!!!!
Many thanks AGOODWORKS !!!!!!
Many thanks MACDADDYRICO !!! !!! !!! !!!
Many thanks AURA !!!!!
I think I know a bit more about these having bought another today.
Many thanks Thomas !!!!
Thanks THOMAS .... the new one adds the word 'LAVA' on the base ... I believe it is one of the later Schwarz pieces.
Thanks for that love MIDNIGHT !!! !!! !!!
Many thanks MELANIEJ !!! !!! !!!
Many thanks KATHERINESCOLLECTIONS !!!!!!!!
Many thanks ANNAB !!! !!! !!!
I have a vase with a design looks like yours. I think it's made by an art pottery student, not a Ragnar Kjartansson vase.
I now think these vases are by Gerhard Schwarz, but am waiting for confirmation from others.
Love this piece! Interesting reading, thanks for sharing!
Many thanks COURTENAYANTIQUES & MARTIKA !!!! !!! !
Many thanks EFESGIRL !!! !!! !!!
This is an album I put together for Gilt Pottery, Thank you for all your information.
https://www.facebook.com/christopher.brumfield/media_set?set=a.10155340014801348.1073741901.655416347&type=3&pnref=story
Thumbs up for icelandic lava :) have an ashtray and a vase my self
Many thanks CHRISTOPHERSBLUES & VIKINGGIRL !!!!!
Many thanks AURA !!!!!
Very unusual !
I Love it !
Please find my personal collection here :
https://www.3dgalleries.com/profile/fdb
Many thanks jymmyp ..... I'll have a look.
Many thanks NH10 !!! !! ! !! !!!
Gorgeous!
Many thanks COOPERGIRL !!!!
Many thanks WINDWALKER !!!!!!
Many thanks PHIL !!!!!!
Many thanks ANTIQUEROSE, HUNTERQLEE & BLAMMOAMMO !!.!!.!!
Many thanks NEWFLD !.!!.!.!!.!
Many thanks MALKEY !.!!.!.!!.!