Vintage Otto Meier Ceramic Spherical Vase, Germany, 1950s-70s, 20th Century

A ceramic spherical vase, signed by the German artist Otto Meier*, from the vintage period of the 1950s-1970s. This vase is in good condition. Signed on the base. Note: minor flaws in the ceramic visible in the photos (see red arrow), small chips on the base, signs of age, see photos. * Otto Meier (1903-1996) is a leading figure in modern German ceramics. Often called "the silent master of the 20th century," he began his artistic career in 1924, studying architecture at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Dortmund. The following year, he discovered an aptitude for ceramics during a visit to Bernhard Hoetger, known then and now as a sculptor, painter, architect, and craftsman, in Worpswede. He apprenticed there shortly before his master, Willi Ohler, left. Meier himself remained and continued his education in the ceramics field, eventually taking over the ceramics workshop at the Hoetger Art Institute. From then on, he worked in various studios and spent three semesters honing his glazing skills at the Bunzlau Ceramic College, until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 brought his work to a halt. At the end of the war, Meier's workshop, then located on Böttcherstrasse, was reduced to rubble. He moved to Worpswede, where he would spend the rest of his life, and in 1950 married a local tapestry weaver named Giselda Harwart. In 1988, he joined Gruppe 83, an association of German ceramicists. Over time, Meier's works gradually became simpler, evolving from the Hoetger-inspired vases of his early career to refined, simpler forms that allowed the vases' shapes and glazing to take center stage. His rounded, delicate, high-necked forms have had an indelible impact on ceramics not only in Germany but also on the cultural landscape of the 20th century. Diameter: max. 18.5 cm; Diameter at neck: 2.3 cm; Height: 14 cm; Reference: 500 965. All photos are available at: www.antiques-delaval.com