Ceramics as a modern art form: After Salzkammergut Keramik had already revived designs by the painter and designer Wolfgang von Wersin, another iconic reissue now follows. The label belonging to Gmundner Keramik is relaunching a vase created in the 1970s by the popular ceramic artist Franz Josef Altenburg—demonstrating the enduring influence of an entire design era.
PIONEER OF CERAMIC ART
He was one of the most important representatives of contemporary ceramics: Franz Josef Altenburg (1941–2021), great-grandson of Emperor Franz Joseph I, never regarded the material as mere craft but as an independent artistic medium. His works move between sculpture and vessel art and are characterized by a calm, often archaic aesthetic. Throughout his life, he was influenced by functional architecture: his pieces are marked by layered or stacked structures and reduced surfaces, in which clay, glaze, and the firing process always remain visible and tangible. Altenburg’s works were shown early on in numerous international exhibitions and are still held today in major art collections.
DESIGNS FOR GMUNDNER KERAMIK
From the late 1960s onward, Altenburg was also a member of Group H: this collective of artists, which included Wolfgang von Wersin and Anton Raidel, was part of the Gmundner Keramik manufactory and pursued the goal of expanding traditional, often decorative tableware production with a dynamic and sophisticated design language. While preserving ceramic techniques that were in some cases centuries old, they also explored new paths of artistic expression.
REISSUE OF A VASE CLASSIC
As a tribute to this period, Salzkammergut Keramik is now reissuing one of the works Franz Josef Altenburg created at the time. The vase originally dates back to 1974: with its simple, architecturally inspired form and fine diagonal line texture, it perfectly reflects the approach of Group H, skillfully bridging the gap between sculpture and functional object. A pastel color palette of lilac, sage green, ice blue, white, and matte dark grey highlights the understated, timeless charm of the design. The classic vase is available in three sizes (20, 30, and 40 centimeters) adding a refined touch to any home.
