Melbourne - Vases and Vessels

“Saqqarah” vase designed by Nanae Umeda, for the glasswares series 'Handle with Care'. Serigraph (silk screen) printing by Egizia, produced and directed by Sottsass Associati. It's d...

This may not be a vase by the Czech company Harrach, hence listed ‘in the style of’. Nevertheless, it has a strong central European 1950s aesthetic. We love to connect the objects we find to the social movements of their time. This vase was made in the 1950s - the atomic age. You can see the inclination towards science - experimental materials and technology, accuracy and super fine detail in the 'Merlatto' (lace) glass treatment of this vase. The Merletto pattern inside the glass is unlike the triple-threaded Czech version. It looks more like the earlier Seguso Merletto...

An Orrefors Art Glass crystal vase, signed ‘Orrefors Expo A 253-73 Olle Alberius’ (Olle Alberius, 1973). We love the wild colours combined in this vase, the punchy Op Art effect ...

A most impressive Brutalist Ikebana vase dating to the 1960s, made in Australia. The vase comes from a major collection of Japanese and Australian Ikebana vases. Unsigned. Our fa...

This beautifully crafted slab vase in the Japanese style was made during Les Blakebrough’s directorship of the Sturt workshops at Mittagong, New South Wales, after his return from study in Japan under Takeichi Kauai. It carries the Sturt stamp alongside Les Blakebrough’s own pottery mark and is in excellent condition. Read condition report for notes and see images. Blakebrough fostered strong ties and exchanges with ceramicists in Japan, including Shigeo Shiga and Shunichi Inoue, each of whom took up residencies in Australia, making the 1970s one of the most vibrant and developmental periods for ceramics in this country. Australian ceramics...

Scarce and collectable, this pair of Op Art, Black and White vases by Martin Freyer typify 1960s, 70s and 80s modernism. The crisp lines and pristine matt finish of the porcelain giv...

A generous, artfully simple slump glass expressionist bowl by the grandfather of the Australian studio glass movement, Stephen Skillitzi. Signed and dated 2013. Skillitzi is recognised as the first Australian studio glass artist and has been working with glass since the 1970s. His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, the Sydney Powerhouse Design Museum and numerous private collections. Deceptively simple in form, this vase references a harlequin glass...

A cased glass ball-stoppered bottle in Empoli* glass. The light Grey glass graduates in thickness which give a very pleasing Ombre colour effect. It's in very good condition and while it is not the largest size we've seen, it is still generous - it holds five litres or 1.32 gallons. The sturdy neck and indented base will certainly support the lifting, tilting and pouring of a large quantity of liquid. There are some speckles of dark colour, possibly ash motts from production, on the inside base. These are embedded in the glass and are not going anywhere. If you're sticking to strictly decorative use, this beautiful bulbous vessel plays very nicely with other Empoli glass, as you can see in our images. Note that only the Grey glass bottle is for sale in this listing. The other items in these images are either sold, or you will find them in our shopfront. *We have no documentary confirmation of the maker but this bottle is in the style of Empoli and is made in that heavy quality cased glass we would expect from the glassmakers of Empoli. It doesn't have quite the refined shape of 1960s Empoli glass so we assume it's from the 1970s, 80s or thereabouts. In any case, a nice addition to a collection of Empoli glass, a lovely shape and suited to 1960s/70s interiors...

This large earthenware lamp base is influenced by studies of ancient Middle Eastern pottery. It has a traditional pattern in the glaze to the up...

Large and wonderfully shaped earthenware lamp is fully wired, tested and tagged safe for use. It’s a coil pot construction in the style of Dan Arbeid. The wid...

If you're looking for Ikebana pottery on a grand scale, this is your vase. A traditional slab construction but with a 1980s twist, this magnificent ter...

Based on ancient Middle Eastern hand-building and glazing technique, this stoneware jar is designed as a floor lamp base, with wiring holes built in. With minimal ingenuity the wiring holes can be stopped up and it can be used as a vase. It can be presented simply as an impressive object in it's own right. It can be wired and lit if desired. It appeals to anyone interested in Organic Modern style, ancient pottery or the Brutalist aesthetic of the 1970s. It was purchased in the late 1960s or early 1970s from Israel by a dedicated collector of ceramics, and shipped to Australia...