Oldrich Asenbryl, Sarn Pottery

Here's another mystery one. The makers stamp is no clearer when you're holding it in your hand than it is in the photo.







It stands about 15cm tall, 10 ish cm diameter. At the bottom a red brown glaze merging into a really nice black at the top with metallic looking browny yellow splotches.
Is this tenmoku? The makers mark is very indistinct but I'd appreciate any suggestions as to potters who might work with such shapes and glazes. Thanks.

It looks like the mark for Oldrich Asenbryl, his current work doesn't look like this but I have an older piece thats more traditional studio like this.

Thanks, I'll go look him up.

Oldrich Asenbryl, while holidaying in England in 1968 was unable to return to his home in Czechoslovakia when the Russian Army invaded. He was introduced to Alan Caiger-Smith by Kenneth Cark after a short period of working in London as a frame maker and moved to Aldermaston Pottery for two years. He set up his own pottery with Simon Rich in 1970 in Tisbury.  For the last 40 years he has lived and worked at Sarn Pottery and with his wife Jenny produce high quality pottery and sculptures.

This is my 27cm high piece of pottery, I suppose a wine flagon, at least thats what I use it for. Always a talking point at parties. The non cork stopper fits perfectly into the top. Not sure of the age but around the 1970s I believe.

I did mean Kenneth Clark

I think I recognised these correctly , but I'd like confirmation if possible. I think they're from the Sarn Pottery and the potter is called Oldrich Asenbryl. On his website his work looks very different now, but I went there in the mid 1980s and bought some pottery bottles and a beautiful set of mugs (I still have them) and a couple of other bits, and I'm positive these are the same. Do you know his work? I e-mailed him yesterday but haven't had a reply as yet. [img][/img]

I can't see your pictures at the moment Mal as my works system blocks any photo sharing sites. But i'll have a look when I get home, I have a couple of pieces myself and some pictures in a catalogue from the early 70's. His work has changed a lot since then.

It certainly has. However I like his old stuff.

Do you have a picture of the mark?

This is the only bit I could find, teapot with some nice brush work

No there are no marks but I think they're seconds as 2 of the eggcups are very rough underneath. I bought a couple of seconds actually in Sarn some years ago and they're not marked either. I've had both these pieces around 30 years!
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25cm dish. Much nicer in life than in the pictures!

i love the name oldrich asenbryl.....
might be because i'm a little bit drunken...
but right now i love it!
oldrich asenbryl... great

It was the Aldermaston look that caught my attention.

Some of my Asenbryls

Are they signed ?

Yes, same mark as above.
They are all boxed up somewhere, otherwise I would take more pics.

Fascinating!

I have 3 in total of these quite delicately potted and decorated stoneware bowls approx 4 1/2" diameter.
Pattern reminds me of both Aldermaston and Wenford Bridge pottery. Haven't been able to id mark from book.

Sarn pottery Oldrich Asenbryl

Agreed Zip, very restrained, my bits are very colourful by comparison.