If the devil is in the details, to me, vintage pottery adds the perfect finishing touch to a tabletop, mantle, or bookshelf. Thanks to their clay base and handmade nature, these vases, bowls, and pitchers combine natural beauty with human skill and, sometimes, happy imperfections. (I like seeing little drips or variations in glazes.)
Vintage vessels add color and texture to a room and can be completely functional as vases, pen or paintbrush holders — you name it. There are so many different styles that they can look good with pretty much any décor. Depending on what types you prefer, pottery can also be very affordable; I've found most of mine for under $10 each.
Images: 1. Daniel Mahon for Design*Sponge 2. The Brick House 3. Tim Cowie for Design*Sponge 4. via I Suwannee 5. via Pinterest 6. Lonny 7. Heather Moore for SF Girl by Bay 8. Arts and Crafts Homes 9. Country Living via Greige Design 10. Etsy seller NowVintage
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I'm crazy for vintage Bitossi/Flavia pottery, which comes from Montelupo Italy, outside of Florence - my collection includes vases, lamps, ashtrays, candleholders, cigarette boxes, a horse sculpture...
...and I'm currently on the lookout for a Herman Miller Meridian Clock:
http://italianpotterymarks.freeforums.org/bitossi-marks-t19.html
Ah pots, vases, bowls -- love my pottery!! Not just vintage, either -- handmade pots of ANY era are often wonderful, including some from today's craft fairs... Beautiful glazes, beautiful shapes. Pottery is sculpture anyone can afford and enjoy!
The pottery shown in the first pic is vintage West-German pottery, which I collect (and love chronicling on my blog.) Vintage pottery is such an interesting and often affordable way to inject personality into one's home and a very interesting collecting field. Thanks for this post!
http://lavalotti.wordpress.com/
I'm a ceramics nut, too. I have several pieces by Elisabeth Maurland that I'm crazy about, but she priced me out many years ago so I've expanded my collection.
Can't go to an art fair without buying a ceramic piece. I think I might have a problem.
SherryBInNH, I was thinking the same thing. There live among us amazing ceramicists both professional and hobby, and it's one of my many obsessions to find great pottery. Here in NJ there's the Potter's Guild of NJ, which has at least two shows a year with mostly functional but also some art ceramics for sale. It's a wonderful thing to eat your cereal and pour your milk from a handmade vessel, and it's a cheap(er) way to satisfy an art collecting itch! I've also enjoyed getting to know potters personally; as an art historian who deals mainly in dead people, it's nice to be around artists whenever possible.
Me too. I'm addicted. I started with all white, now I love various colors. I love a monochrome display like the fourth picture.
It's the first thing I notice in a room. I love pottery well displayed.
I love the next to last picture, with all the white...I'm trying to do something like that in my dining room, and it looks so soothing and elegant.
I'm also an avid retro pottery collector, particularly West German and Italian pieces. These look lovely in this setting, really like it. Emma
http://littleowlski.wordpress.com
I've been having fun acquiring pottery from MFA ceramic artists before they become too popular and out of my price range. I recently bought a beautiful dragonfly mug from one of the MFA students on the