Gertrud and Otto Natzler Glazed Terracotta Compote
Item Details
A glazed terracotta compote by highly regarded artists Gertrud (Austrian, 1908-1971) and Otto Natzler (Austrian, 1908-2007), circa 1956. The footed bowl is wheel thrown in its design and comprised of two pieces, the bowl and the pedestal base being hand thrown and then glazed together in the firing. The creamy white and pale cobalt blue glaze features pitting, viscous flowing and fissures, pockmarks and has an intentional textural element, particularly the pedestal, characteristic of the Natzler’s collaboration and relationship with the clay and glazes. The California terracotta, with its high red iron content, can be seen through some of the pitting along the foot and underside of the pedestal. To the inside of the foot, the piece is signed in black underglaze, ‘Natzler’ and has a numeric label. Item comes with corresponding catalog.
The Natzlers were Austrian-born Americans, husband and wife, and influential ceramic artists. Working in California, they utilized local California clays instead of importing clay for their work. Gertrud’s flywheel potter’s wheel renewed an interest in thrown pottery and resulted in elegant forms with clean lines. Otto’s glazes were self-made instead of commercially purchased. His glazes took on distinctive stylistic elements which included craters, blisters, pockmarks, and shriveled patterns. The couple artistically collaborated for over 30 years with Gertrud throwing pottery and Otto inventing and applying the glaze before being fired in an electric kiln. Today, their work is displayed in The Museum of Modern Art, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Museum of Arts and Design, and more. For more information, please refer to the link below.
Condition
- four small stress cracks are present to the inside of the foot, they do not affect the structural integrity of the item.
Dimensions
- measured for shipping; the diameter of the bowl is 13.25" with a depth of 4" at the center.
Item #
16NYC028-270-001
Additional Information
