Valerie Wieselthier (1896 – 1945) Austrian-American Ceramic Artist

Idiosyncratic style – coarse modelling and drip-glass effects

Valerie Wieselthier was an Austrian designer who lived from 1895 to 1945. She was the daughter of a lawyer

Education

Between 1914 and 1918, she attended the Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna, where she studied with Michael Powolny, Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffman, and others.

Biography of Valerie Wieselthier

She was the head of the Wiener Werkstätte’s ceramic workshop. She worked in a highly distinctive style with coarse modelling and drip-glass effects. When the Ausgarten porcelain factory reopened in 1924, she contributed designs to ceramics and fabrics. She established her workshop in 1922. She moved to the United States in 1929, where she created ceramic designs for Contempora in New York and Sebring Pottery in Ohio. She was also involved in creating glassware, textiles, and paper-maché mannequins. She made the metal elevator doors for the 1929—30 Squibb building in New York (architect Ely Jacques Kahn). She travelled to Chicago with Paul Lester Wiener in 1933 and worked as a designer for the Contempora Group and the Sebring Pottery Company. She died of stomach cancer at a New York hospital on September 1, 1945.

Valerie Wieselthier Exhibitions

She first showed work in Germany in 1922. Work was shown at 1925 Paris’ Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes’ (gold and silver medals); 1928–29 ceramic exhibitions, American Federation of Arts, New York; the subject of exhibitions at Art Center, 1928, and Weyhe Galleries, 1930, both New York. Many museums, including the Metropolitan Museum, hold her work.

Valerie Wieselthier view on Pottery

“There are arts which have no deep message to give the world save their beauty and the artist’s joy in making, intimate arts that make life gayer and yet have all the seriousness of a thing that is felt intensely and worked out with the utmost care. Of these, pottery is the chief. Good pottery has the feeling of purpose always in it; it expresses attitudes and moments of life which to the great poet or prophet may seem almost superficial but are, for the ordinary people of the very stuff of life itself, the delight of the true “Lebenskünstler.”

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Clark, G., Kuchta, R. A., & Hughto, M. (1979). A century of ceramics in the United States: 1878-1978: a study of its development. E.P. Dutton.

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What was the Sebring Pottery Company

The Sebring Pottery Company, established in 1887 in East Liverpool, Ohio, by Frank Sebring and his siblings, was a significant player in American ceramics. In 1898, the company relocated to what is now Sebring, Ohio, a town founded by the Sebring family to support their pottery enterprises. (Museum of Ceramics)

Design Evolution and Historical Context

Sebring Pottery was among the pioneers in producing semi-porcelain with an ivory finish, diverging from the traditional white, which marked a notable shift in American ceramic aesthetics. (WorthPoint )

Their designs often featured ornate patterns and 22-karat gold accents, exemplified by the “Chantilly” pattern from the 1940s. This pattern showcased intricate gold filigree and central motifs depicting colonial scenes, reflecting the era’s penchant for elaborate and historically inspired designs.

Visual Characteristics

Sebring’s pieces are distinguished by their elegant forms and detailed decorations. For instance, the “Chantilly” pattern combines a delicate colour palette with rich gold embellishments, creating a sense of luxury and refinement. Scalloped edges and smooth finishes further enhance the visual appeal, contributing to a harmonious balance between form and ornamentation.

Legacy and Influence

The Sebring Pottery Company played a crucial role in developing American ceramic design, influencing subsequent trends in tableware aesthetics. Their innovative use of materials and commitment to quality craftsmanship left a lasting imprint on the decorative arts landscape.

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