Wolf-Diether Pölloth (1937–1999) – Studio Vase, Late 20th Century
Hand-thrown ceramic vase with layered glaze painting in black, grey, and rose-pink

This striking studio vase is an unmistakable work of Wolf-Diether Pölloth, one of the most accomplished German ceramicists of the postwar generation. Wheel-thrown and finished with his characteristic painterly glaze technique, the piece stands 27 cm tall and displays a superb interplay of form and surface: a sober, slightly ovoid bottle shape animated by sweeping, atmospheric colour fields.

The surface reveals Pölloth’s signature vocabulary—glaze as landscape. Broad, fluid strokes of deep black, smoky grey, and warm rose-pink flow around the vessel like geological strata or shifting horizons. This layered effect, achieved through controlled pouring and brush application, is a hallmark of Pölloth's work from the late 1970s to the 1990s, when he developed a highly personal surface language that set him apart from the more reductionist German stoneware of the era.

The vase is thrown in reddish-brown stoneware clay and finished with a glossy glaze that subtly pools and thins, creating depth and softness. To the underside, the base retains the exposed clay ring and carries Pölloth’s incised signature—an expressive, cursive script familiar to collectors.

Artist Background
Wolf-Diether Pölloth (1937–1999), trained in Selb and later active in Hof, belonged to the influential Upper Franconian studio ceramics scene. His work is celebrated for its distinctive colour sensibility and painterly glaze compositions, which bridge the worlds of ceramics and fine art. Pölloth exhibited widely in Germany and maintained a loyal collector base; his vessels are represented in regional museum collections and are increasingly sought after on the secondary market.

Condition
Excellent vintage condition.
No chips, cracks, hairlines, or restorations.

Dimensions
Height: 27 cm
Diameter approx.: 15 cm

A powerful example of Pölloth’s mature studio work—harmonious in form, expressive in glaze, and rich in artistic presence. A refined addition for collectors of German Studiokeramik, postwar vessel sculpture, and painterly ceramic surfaces.