A rare, bottle-green “belly” vase from ROTH KERAMIK. A very crusty, metallic dove-gray zigzag of volcanic fat lava slips down to skirt the waist of its classic, 1970s “UFO” shape. The base is marked with the form nr. (110) and country of origin (W. GERMANY).

ROTH KERAMIK was founded in the late 1960s, or very early 1970s, by husband-and-wife team Edmund and Dorothea Roth, in the Westerwald region of Germany, in the municipality of Ebernhahn. Situated roughly halfway between Cologne (Köln) and Frankfurt, Ebernhahn is a central hub for the German ceramics industry owing to its location within the small cluster of towns that make up the Kannenbäckerland (jug-baker’s land), home to Europe’s largest clay deposit. ROTH was quite small compared to the big names of West German art pottery, employing only about 20 people in its heyday, and its output was naturally tiny when measured against that of industry giants like Scheurich or Carstens.

Dorothea Roth is believed to have been responsible for the company’s designs, with Marei Keramik appearing to have supplied some of the more unique forms. Her signature pieces featured brightly colored, high-gloss, “lozenges” or “petals,” outlined with duller, black (or sometimes white), “fat-lava” glazing. This décor was reproduced on a variety of shapes, including the iconic Guitar and Banjo vases. Besides the most common orange, the striking colors used for the lozenges included red, yellow, and rare purple examples.

Very little else is known about ROTH KERAMIK. Despite its small size, the firm produced some of the most sought-after and collectible pottery of the late mid-century period while developing some truly distinctive volcanic and fat-lava glazes. Toward the end of the golden age of Art Pottery, ROTH began producing rather utilitarian tableware. The company was officially dissolved in 2008.

DETAILS

Maker – ROTH KERAMIK

Production Period/Year – 1970s

Designer – DOROTHEA ROTH

Design Period/Year – 1970s

Origin – WEST GERMANY

Styles/Movements – MID-CENTURY MODERN; SPACE AGE

Materials – CERAMIC

Colors – BOTTLE GREEN, DOVE GRAY

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

Dimensions – 4" DIAM. × 4 ½" H