Northern Lights Vase
March 13th, 2009
Design: Herta Gerz
Manufacturer: BC Ceramics, Vancouver, BC
Date: 1950s
Photo: Allan Collier Collection
BC Ceramics was BC’s largest manufacturer of ceramic giftware, including vases, lamps, bowls, and figurines. Their distinctively shaped and decorated products were sold nationally through Birks and department stores. The principal figures in the Company were F. Leuchte (businessman), Walter Gerz (ceramic engineer) and his wife, Herta Gerz (ceramic artist). While most often decorated with floral and native motifs, the Company’s ceramic products sometimes featured contemporary abstract designs and experimental glazes consistent with the European trends of the time. An example of the huge contribution that German and other immigrants made in the development of the art and design industries after WW2.
-Allan Collier
Entry Filed under: Ceramics
5 Comments Add your own
1. J.Jones | March 15th, 2009 at 16:58
Important, maybe. But sorry – in my humble opinion, this vase is hideous.
2. liz | March 17th, 2009 at 08:52
This is yet another example why the study of Canadian multiculturalism is important to Canadian Design.
The design of this vase screams “Germany, 1950′s” and upon further investigation we find it is indeed German design from the 1950′s, Walter & Herda Gertz having immigrated from Germany themselves.
It would be interesting to do a study how this style evolved over their years in Canada. Did it evolve to match certain “Canadian” influences and unique attributes or did they continue to follow the design trends stemming from other Countries?
As time passes their works start to include native imagery, also a typical trend in Canadian “design” but this always seems disingenuous, that their work was made to meet the market more than anything.
Vases like this are important as a reflection of Canadian Society, Canada’s roots in Multiculturalism and German Heritage. But it is also vases like this that leave a gaping “Canadian” hole in the Design & Art world, important as history perhaps but less important as ceramics.
Personally, I think this vase is a fantastic example of Herda Gertz’ work and it is important that records on them are kept and collected. It’s the relation to the body that’s interesting. But as an item it feels like just another German Vase from the 1950′s. A modern design that is aesthetically satisfying without meaning.
3. artvandal | April 5th, 2009 at 06:39
Here are a few more pieces from the same series. I like her work.
[IMG]http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc336/artvandal_photos/Pottery%20Forum/bc.jpg[/IMG]
4. KD | September 22nd, 2009 at 17:49
I think this is a beautiful piece of art. I love the pattern and color.
5. Allan Collier | November 13th, 2009 at 00:13
Liz
Yes, the decor and matte black glaze are quintessentially German (“Marokko” decor by Hanns Welling for Ruscha, Rheinbach), and these Northern Lights pieces were likely done after the Gerz’s arrival in Canada from the Rhine in the mid 50′s.
I have a BC Ceramics website that should be up and running again by year’s end. There you can check out a few of the other things the company produced.
I profess I don’t like all their work, but find the cultural connections and the industrial history fascinating.
AC
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