C20Ceramics

Feb 10

Apollo 11 – The Vase!

The Apollo Series Vases – Royal Norfolk UK, 1960s.

Way back in July 2011, on the previous version of this site I posted about a spectacular very large blue vase with “Apollo 11” stamped underneath. I couldn’t find anything out about it until after several comments on the blog it was identified by Steve Optix from Retro Mojo UK as being produced by Royal Norfolk (UK).

What I love about this series is the way the textured ripples on the surface remind me of the Apollo rockets on take off when you had all gasses and steam rippling and flowing down the sides of the rocket. The designer of the series is yet to be identified.

Over time, in my experience, all mysteries to do with vintage ceramics are resolved. Late last year Steve from Retro Mojo put together information about the Apollo series forms, and below is a summary of the background discovered.

Royal Norfolk Pottery Company in the late 1960’s produced a range of vases to commemorate the NASA Apollo missions 8 though 11.
It seems that there were four vases released – One shape per mission, and there were four colours – acid orange, dark blue, white and lastly green. A black has also been found (in Apollo 11 at least)
The Apollo 8 vase was a basic short cylinder, measuring 190 mm tall.
The Apollo 9 vase a fantastic modernist form measuring 255-260 mm tall.
Apollo 10 is the big cylinder measuring 295 mm tall and 110 mm across.
The Apollo 11 version, measures 300 mm tall and being an almost inverted version of the Apollo 9.

My personal favourites are Apollo 9 and 11. The acid orange is a spectacular colour, but the deep blue is equally impressive.

Apollo 10 Vase, Royal Norfolk – Photo Steve Optix

Apollo 8 Vase, Royal Norfolk UK – Photo Steve Optix, Retro Mojo

The Royal Norfolk Pottery Company, established in 1958, were called such because they worked out of Norfolk Street in Shelton, Staffordshire, nothing to do with Norfolk.

Feb 9

Gunter Praschak, Knabstrup Denmark – Wall Plaques

Gunter Praschak (1940- 2015 ), Wall Plaques

Gunter Praschak was a highly accomplished ceramicist and educator, with a large body of work which is well represented in galleries in Europe and the U.S.A. /Canada.

Im a lover of 20th Century wall plaques, and I am drawn to the wall plaques by Praschack which were produced during his time at Knabstrup Pottery in Denmark. His wall plaque designs are of animals and insects, some naturalistic – but the majority are stylised and bold, and typically mid-century in their design.

Gunter’s association with Knabstrup as a ceramic designer was between 1964 – 1970. During this time he also had his own studio in Copenhagen.

From 1973 until 2004 he was head of the Ceramics Department at the University of Fine Arts in Linz, Austria . Subsequently he worked until his death in 2015 as a freelance artist in his studio in Perchtoldsdorf near Vienna.

Gunter Praschak, Knabstrup Wall Plaque (Pinterest)

Gunter was initially married to the artist Waltraud Praschak-Thalhammer (married 1968-1988) who worked also at Knabstrup (1964-1970) and some Knabstrup pieces you will find – the forms were designed by Gunter, and the pattern or design was by Waltraud. His second wife the was painter Katja Praschak.

Gunter Praschak is regarded as an important representative of modern ceramics in Austria, in addition to his work as a university lecturer who influenced and helped promote the careers of many graduates.

There is a comprehensive Wikipedia entry for Gunter Praschak HERE

There is also a wonderful Danish site which has just about every design produced by Knabstrup including these plaques by Gunter Praschak. https://knabstrup-samler.dk/13252207/

Gunter Praschak Signature Knabstrup — Gunter Praschak Signature while at Knabstrup Pottery

Feb 8

Derek Smith, Australia

Derek Smith was a already an accomplished ceramic designer and art teacher in the U.K. when he moved to Australia in 1956.

He set up a studio and kilns while he was teaching at Bowral High School in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, near Sturt Pottery where Smith developed working relationships with the potters there at the time.