A heavy-footed goblet-form stoneware vase with a flared rim, from the studio of self-taught Hungarian master potter Éva Bod. The color and viscous flow of the dominant glaze seem to simulate blackstrap molasses, while the lip is ringed with a thin band of speckled verdigris. Both effects recall Bod’s background as a chemist, which fueled the deeply experimental techniques she developed in her Budapest workshop, often achieving novel metallic sheens and matte-gloss contrasts.

ÉVA BOD (1924–2004) is recognized as one of Hungary’s most influential ceramic artists of the 20^th century. She cultivated her career in Budapest, where she pioneered proprietary glazing techniques that combined profound color depth with contrasting textures. Her self-taught artistic journey was rooted in experimentation and drew upon her background in the physical sciences. Her works—vases, wall plates, and mosaics—often distinguished by metallic sheens and striking asymmetrical forms—have secured a lasting place for her in the world of ceramic art. Celebrated for both its technical sophistication and artistic insight, much of her oeuvre combines earthy tones and molten, mineral-like finishes that appear to shift with the light. It is considered highly collectible, particularly her larger, mid-century pieces from the ’60s and ’70s.

Bod began her career as a chemist and physicist, graduating from Eötvös Loránd University in 1953, at the height of Stalinist rule. Seven years later, she taught herself ceramics, developing her own unique glazes. Her professional path navigated the realities of working in a one-party state: she was a member of the Hungarian Fine Art Fund and the National Association of Hungarian Artists—official, state-sanctioned art bodies. Membership was a necessary step for artists to work professionally and exhibit publicly, ensuring their work remained within the politically “tolerated” category of state cultural policy.

DETAILS

Maker – ÉVA BOD

Production Period/Year – 1960s

Origin – HUNGARY

Styles/Movements – MID-CENTURY MODERN

Materials – STONEWARE

Colors – OXBLOOD, ROBIN'S EGG, SAND

Condition – Excellent vintage condition. May show minor signs of previous ownership and use.

Dimensions – 0 0" DIAM. × 0 0" H