Gerhard Liebenthron Handled Vase, Studio Pottery with Brushed Decoration, Signed GL 62, 7.5 cm, Bremen 1962

This small handled vase comes from the workshop of Bremen ceramist Gerhard Liebenthron (1925–2005), who, after studying at the Norddeutsche Kunsthochschule, created freely thrown and hand-built unique pieces in Bremen from the 1950s onwards, later in the Böttcherstraße. The signature is hand-incised into the unglazed base: the interlaced monogram GL with the year 62 beneath. Liebenthron marked his work in this way with monogram and year, which dates the vase to 1962. The palette of sand, ochre, brown and black is also consistent with his work of the early 1960s.

The body is compressed and globular, slightly asymmetrical, topped by a short, waisted neck with a flared, plate-like rim and a sturdy pulled strap handle at the side. Broad brushstrokes of ochre and brown are laid over the light, sand-coloured ground, overlaid with freely drawn black lines and loops; fine dark speckles cover the entire surface. The glaze is matte to satin, with throwing marks still visible beneath the decoration. The inside of the neck is glazed in glossy dark brown.

As a bud vase for a single stem or as a small object on a shelf, sideboard or desk, the vase suits a mid-century or vintage interior as well as a collection of German studio pottery. It measures 7.5 cm in height, 10 cm in width including the handle and 9.5 cm in depth. The condition is very good, with no chips, cracks or repairs; small irregularities in glaze and decoration are part of the handmade production. No VAT is shown.