The flamboyance of Hedi Schoop and Sascha Brastoff :
During WW2 and immediately after, foreign imports into the USA had been cut off, resulting in the flourishing of domestic art pottery firms. This was further supported by the postwar building boom, especially in states like California. The demand for decorative and functional pottery wares was high, especially from the new homes being furnished. The shared sacrifices of the war were gone and the ceramic products reflected the new optimism with free flowing styles, fun, kitsch and heart warming designs. A lot of the decorative figurines expressed motion, from walking to dancing and other movements, capturing the mood shift.. TV’s were also selling in huge numbers so sales of ceramic TV lamps also flourished. Two influential ceramic artists from this time are featured below.
Vintage Hedi Schoop harlequin dancers
Hedi Schoop
One of the designers at the forefront of this era of Mid Century ceramic design was Hedi Koop. Having fled Europe in 1933 with her composer husband ( Friedrich Hollander ), she resettled in California and in 1940 opened up a pottery studio in Hollywood, focusing on the popular figurines along with planters, ashtrays, lamps, bowls and vases. She had studied sculpture, architecture, painting, and fashion design at several European art institutions including Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna and Reimann Institute in Berlin. Her innovative California pottery designs were style defining at this time and widely imitated. If a Schoop figure proved popular with consumers, an entire line of accompanying décor objects were created. At the height of her success, “Hedi Schoop Art Creations” produced over 30,000 giftware items per year, and employed over fifty workers. She designed and modelled almost every piece in her line. Her figurines are the most sought after as a collectible.
Vintage ceramic bowl/planter by Hedi Schoop has sparkling gold trim over rose pink, and has incredible detailed texture. Shaped in a winding S-curve, the piece looks different from any angle when displayed in the round. Dates to circa 1950s, I think, based on the generous application of gold and the color.
( Elle Jay – Etsy )
Phantasy Dancer – Hedi Schoop
Vintage Hedi Schoop Poodle ashtray
Scalloped ruffle vase – Hedi Shcoop California Vintage
Mid-century hedi schoop figurine
Schoop-ceramic-figurines
Figurines, dancer with mandolin player - Hedi Schoop
Hedi Schoop vase
A pair of poodles – Hedi Schoop
( hepcat restorations )1
Hedi Schoop modernist cat
TV Lamp
Two Hedi Schoop Dancer Figurines.In the middle is a ceramic deer TV lamp by Krim 1
Hedi Schoop
Comedy Tragedy TV lamp
Hedi Schoop lady figurine
Salmon Pink Swirl Vase - Hedi Schoop
Skyscrapers TV Lamp
( hepcat restorations )
Hedi Schoop dancing figurine planter
Hedi Schoop did work with her sister Trudi in European dance and cabaret before she left Germany for America in 1933.
Cat face wall plaque/plate
Hedi Schoop 1960s Pottery Chip, Bread Platter and Dip Sauce Bowls
Hedi Schoop Shell Planter/vase
Iridescent Glaze Geisha Girl Vase
Sascha Brastoff
Sascha Brastoff was also a successful Los Angeles ceramic designer at this time, who had a flair for promotion, mixing freely with Hollywood stars and celebrities. His bold, colourful and flamboyant creations fitted perfectly into this postwar era of adventurous ceramic design. Sascha began creating ceramics in New York in the early 40′s. After a stint in the Air Force followed by working as a costume designer with Fox Studios in Hollywood, he set up a ceramics plant in West Los Angeles called Sascha Brastoff Product’s Incorporated with the backing of Winthorpe B. Rockefeller. In the mid 1960″s other art pottery makers such as Stangl and Royal Haeger were licensed to use Sascha’s name trademark. These items usually have a thick black cursive SB signature near the maker’s mark. His unique pieces, many displaying a modernist flair, have become a favourite with collectors.
Large Bowl – Sascha Bastoff
( Haegernerd – Flikr )
Gold enamel fruit bowl
A large Haeger vase with a Sascha Brastoff design
( Haegernerd – flickr )
Sascha Brastoff ceramic collection
Sascha Brastoff enamel ashtray, lighter and cigarette holder set
Rooftops – tall lidded pitcher
Pagoda’s decorative plate
Sascha Brastoff abstract series vase
Sascha Brastoff - red black ashtray
Vintage modernist wall plate
Blackgold surf ballet- ceramic coffee pot
Mid-century abstract fish mosaic platter – Sascha Barstoff
Aztec bird shaped bowl – Sascha Brastoff
Mid-Century salt and pepper shakers – Cleminson Pottery of California
A decorative wall plaque/plate by Marc Bellaire who was a protege of Sascha Brastoff, who eventually became a competitor.
A fabulous head vase from this era designed by Kathi Urbach
Sources cited :
http://www.myantiquemall.com/
http://www.collectorsweekly.com Who Killed American Kitsch? by Ben Marks
http://midcenturyliving.blogspot.com.au
Vintage California postwar pop pottery is a post from: Ceramics & Pottery Arts & Resources
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