Designer Desire: Hugo Kohler

We bought a large vintage plate last week. We were in two minds as to whether we should pick it up or not. It was mainly brown and slipware decorated with a couple getting married; it had a very folk art feel.

We got it home and, after studying it with a magnifying glass, we managed to decipher the marks on the back. It was crudely incised with kohler biel keramik handarbeit. We looked online and discovered that it was made by Swiss ceramicist, Hugo Kohler.

We found lots and lots of other pieces by him for sale on eBay and Etsy, amongst other places, but couldn’t find out anything about Hugo Kohler himself. Can you help?

Image credits:
eBay | Etsy

Designer Desire: Laila Zink

Earlier this week, we discovered the designs of Laila Zink (1915-1999) whilst researching the identity of the designer who created a large pottery charger that we’d bought at the flea market. She worked for pottery manufacturers Kupittaan Savi based in Finland. Her work is very distinctive – stylised folk art figures, flowers and landscapes. The elongated facial features and almond shaped eyes of the ladies (and it does usually seem to be ladies) are instantly recognisable. Her pieces are all hand painted and very individual.

We couldn’t find out much information about either her or Kupittaan Savi. A book has been written about the company… however it’s in Finnish. Her work isn’t very commonplace however, there are currently a few examples available on Etsy and eBay.

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Image credits:

Bukowskis | Pinterest

A mysterious gentlewoman

This lovely large pottery charger was one of our more interesting finds last week.

We were wondering how to describe the subject matter. An elegantly dressed gentlewoman we figured – contemplating the day at the tea table with her cut flower and songbird.

It’s beautifully hand-painted and despite the piece being signed front and back, the artist was initially a mystery. But after some research, we’ve solved it! It’s the work of Laila Zink (1915-1999) for Finnish manufacturer Kupittaan Savi and dates from the 1950s/60s. It’s always good to keep learning!

It measures 36cm x 30cm and has holes to the reverse for hanging. It certainly makes for a very striking piece of midcentury modern wall art. She’ll be coming to our web shop very soon, but first dibs to our blog readers – priced at £175.

Abelardo Ruiz

We’ve welcomed a new young lady into our house this week. Adelle’s parents were having a re-decorate/clear out and offered us this vintage papier mâché candle holder that once belonged to her grandmother.

It dates from the 1960s/70s and is the work of Mexican artist, Abelardo Ruiz. We wonder how it managed to find its way from Central America to a small little town in Surrey!

His girls are very distinctive with pretty big eyes and long lashes – quite similar in style to another favourite artist of ours, Lefor Openo.

Her wide brimmed hat forms the candle holder, but she works simply as a decorative model or sculpture too. She’s very much at home in a mid century modern or vintage boho chic setting.

Here are some more fabulous examples of Abelardo Ruiz work we’ve found online.

_{Additional image credits: Etsy | eBay | Worthpoint | k-bid | Antique Auctions Now | Live Auctioneers}

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: folk art

Designer Desire: Hugo Kohler

Designer Desire: Laila Zink

A mysterious gentlewoman

Abelardo Ruiz