Vintage Mid Century Modern Gertrude and Otto Natzler Whimsical LA Decorative Art Hand-Thrown Studio Vessel Barium Blue Lava Glaze Bowl
Gertrud Amon Natzler, an Austrian-American ceramicist, achieved great acclaim alongside her husband Otto Natzler for their extraordinary contributions to 20th-century ceramics. Their artistic prowess played a significant role in establishing ceramics as a recognized fine art form.
Born on July 7, 1908, in Vienna, Austria, Gertrud Amon belonged to a Jewish family. Her parents were Adolf Amon, who ran a stationery company, and Helene Grünwald. Gertrud had an older brother named Hans. She completed her education at Vienna's Handelsakademie, a commercial school, and also pursued painting, and drawing, and worked as a secretary. In 1933, she crossed paths with Otto Natzler, who had recently lost his job as a textile designer. Although their romance blossomed later, it wasn't until Otto divorced his first wife in 1934.
Gertrud's growing interest in pottery sparked Otto's curiosity as well. After self-teaching and studying at Franz Iskra's ceramics studio, they established their own studio, dedicating themselves to ceramics full-time. The artistic couple quickly gained recognition for their exceptional craftsmanship. Their inaugural exhibition took place in 1937 at the Galerie Würthle. On March 11, 1938, they received news that their works exhibited at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne had been awarded a silver medal. However, on the same day, German troops invaded Austria, leading to its annexation by Nazi Germany. In response, the Natzlers, assisted by Otto's cousin in Los Angeles, swiftly made preparations to leave for the United States. They married in June and departed Austria for Los Angeles in September.
In Los Angeles, the Natzlers established a new studio, where Gertrud would spend the remainder of her life. Initially, they utilized a wheel and kiln brought from Vienna, making ends meet by providing individual instruction at their studio and selling their artwork. Recognition of their craftsmanship in the United States commenced in 1939 when they won first prize at the Ceramic National. The following year, they held their first comprehensive exhibition in San Diego, followed by numerous exhibitions over the next three decades. From 1956 to 1960, the Natzlers served as summer artists-in-residence at the Brandeis Institute.
While Otto primarily focused on glazing, Gertrud worked predominantly as a potter. Notably, she became renowned during her Vienna days for creating thin-walled vessels. In California, she gained recognition for her ability to shape delicate forms, as acknowledged by fellow potters such as Harrison McIntosh. Lisa Hammel, a critic from The New York Times, observed in 1986 that Gertrud's work consistently maintained a state of equilibrium. Even her most vibrant glazes were balanced by the gentle curves of her thin forms. Throughout her career, Gertrud crafted over 25,000 vessels.
Tragically, Gertrud Natzler passed away from cancer on June 3, 1971, leaving behind numerous unfinished pieces. Otto temporarily halted his work for more than a year but eventually resumed firing and glazing the unfinished works. These pieces continued to receive acclaim through new and retrospective exhibitions. Several prominent museums, including the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. (1973), the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles (1977), and the American Craft Museum in New York (1993), held retrospectives of the Natzlers' artwork. In 1994, two exhibitions of Gertrud's work were held in Vienna, one at the Historical Museum of the City of Vienna.
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