Horst Kerstan ( kandern baden)

Dates from the 1960's

Really cool, IMHO anyway, art pottery dish or maybe it's an ashtray. The design on the face is what had me drawn to it. The dish itself is very much like a high end tile or stone that you would pit in an entryway to your home etc. That's the best way I can describe the finish and texture as I have some experience with that sort of thing. I've had a devil of a time trying to photograph the sig as the surface is so reflective. I hope I got it clear enough for someone to id. Anyone recognize the signature? Sorry about the crappy crop on one of the photos, it was a rush job, lol... Thanks.

try doing a brass rubbing over the signature

Great piece btw

At first I thoughy Horst Kerstan , but the front part is throwing me off , deffo ends in STAN IMo.

dantheman wrote:try doing a brass rubbing over the signature

Great piece btw

Thank you, and yes it's really nice. One of the rare occasions where the wife saw something before I did, lol. Will have a go at a rubbing and se what happens. Any thoughts on the best tools to do the rubbing ie paper/charcoal conte etc?

I have had success with pencil

I think you are right Ed. It's Horst Kerstan.

I think I will have to agree and I thank you all for your help. The sig combined with the unique way he forms the bases of his pottery I think makes it a done deal.

That's absolutely wonderful.

Thank-you

thD

Can anyone read this mark please, I can read 1979 and it looks like --- tam? Thanks.

Found an english text at 1dibs
https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/dining-entertaining/ceramics/german-ceramic-horst-kerstan/id-f_845409/

Horst Kerstan (1941-2005)

1941 born in Frankfurt/Main
1956 Apprenticeship as a porcelain painter at the Porzellanmanufaktur Hoechst
1957-59 studies Pottery at the Werkkunstschule Offenbach
1959-62 Kerstan became the apprentice of Richard Bampi in Kandern
1962/63 he worked as an fellow guild member in Florence
1965 Kerstan took over Richard Bampi's workshop in Kandern
1967 he became a master craftsman of pottery
1970 first educational journey to japan
from 1971 member of the AIC, Geneva http://www.aic-iac.org
from 1974 numberous educational journeys to Japan & Korea
1977 Kerstan finished his first anagama kiln

Your vase is signed twice and dated... these are the collectable pieces!

In german language we call the shape "kalebassen-förmig" which means "gourd-shaped"

http://www.badische-zeitung.de/goethe-sche-urform-behaeltnis-der-seele

This looks Japanese to me but can't place the mark or read the signature.

It's in a Japanese style but doesn't look Japanese. The "scrawl" to me looks like a name beginning with K and underneath 96 for the year.

Thank you - I did wonder about it being Japanese influence.

Horst Kersten, germany.... ??

That's the one - thank you.

Kerstan ;-)

Michael