Identification Guides

The Wiener Werkstätte designers in Vienna, Austria, not only created their own style but also trained artists who brought the style to other countries. Many famous potters worked in Vienna from 1905 to 1931, including Valerie (Vally) Wieselthier, who influenced the work of Viktor Schreckengost. Other potters inspired by the Wiener Werkstätte were the Cowan potters and Cleveland School artists; Lucie Rie, who became a famous potter in England; and Gertrud and Otto Natzler, American studio potters. Wiener Werkstätte artists created one-of-a-kind handmade figures from 1917 to 1920, then designed production ceramics that were manufactured until 1931.

Wiener Werkstätte ceramics had the finger marks and rough quality of hand-worked clay. Figures of women were elongated, and faces were angular with straight noses. Round-faced cherubic children with garlands of flowers were also popular. Animal figures often displayed a humorous, childish look. All of the work used strong colors like bright yellow, orange, red and blue. Tablewares were often decorated with strong geometric designs in black and white or a single color.

Wiener Werkstätte pottery figurines showed sturdy children with limbs and clothes slightly "squared off." They were copied by many studio potters. This schoolgirl, 8 1/4 inches high, is in the Weiner Werkstätte style.