Otto and Vivika Heino Original Vintage California Art Studio Pottery Tenmoku Lava Style Glaze Ceramic Charger
Original vintage art studio ceramic California pottery charger with tenmoku glazes and a lava-edged style by Vivika and Otto Heino. The charger measures approximately 10.4" from edge to farthest edge of the charger, and is in very good to excellent original condition.
Otto and Vivika Heino were influential American studio potters whose collaborative work significantly impacted 20th-century ceramics. Their partnership, spanning over four decades, was marked by a shared commitment to craftsmanship, innovation in glaze development, and a dedication to functional pottery.
Early Lives and Meeting
Vivika Heino, born Vivien Place in 1910 in Caledonia, New York, initially pursued a career in education and theater before discovering her passion for ceramics. She studied at the California School of Fine Arts and the University of Southern California under renowned ceramist Glen Lukens. In 1941, she earned an M.F.A. from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, becoming one of its earliest graduates .
Otto Heino, born in 1915 in East Hampton, Connecticut, served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. After the war, he utilized the G.I. Bill to study ceramics at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where he met Vivika, who was teaching there. The couple married in 1950, marking the beginning of their lifelong collaboration .
Collaborative Career
The Heinos' work is characterized by clean lines and distinctive glazes, reflecting influences from the Arts and Crafts movement, the Bauhaus, and Japanese pottery traditions. They emphasized traditional and utilitarian forms, maintaining a consistent aesthetic throughout their careers.
Ceramics Now
In the early 1950s, the couple moved to California, where Vivika taught at the University of Southern California and later at the Chouinard Art Institute. Otto also taught and honed his skills in pottery during this period. In 1963, they returned to their studio in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, before eventually settling in Ojai, California, in 1973, where they established "The Pottery," a studio and gallery that became central to their work .
Legacy and Recognition
Throughout their careers, the Heinos participated in over 200 national and international exhibitions. Otto received the Gold Medal at the Sixth Biennale Internationale de Céramique d'Art in Vallauris, France, in 1978. Their work is included in numerous public collections, such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, California.
After Vivika's death in 1995, Otto continued their work, notably developing a rich yellow glaze inspired by ancient Chinese ceramics, which he dedicated to her memory. He continued to produce pottery until his death in 2009 .
The Heinos' dedication to their craft, their innovative glaze techniques, and their commitment to functional pottery have left a lasting impact on the field of ceramics, influencing generations of potters and collectors alike.
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