Zeisel designed at Schramberg (Schramberger Majolikafabrik) in Germany from the fall of 1928 until the summer of 1930.  Most of these designs were not produced immediately, but appeared in 1929 and subsequent years.   Her earlier works there were strongly influenced by the then-strong Bauhaus movement, but she always followed her own impulse to combine the needs of the marketplace with the human component. Hence, her Schramberg work has elements of the art-deco school, but also reflects the folk art interest of her earlier work, combined with the requirements  and restraints of the industrial setting

 

 Zeisel designed not only the shapes but the original patterns (dek) for most of the pieces on this page.  The paint department, however, often adapted her original concepts and applied them to other pieces.  For example, a pattern intended for use on a plate would change proportions if wrapped around a cup or teapot, so Zeisel would sometimes feel the design was not exactly as she had conceived it.

 

Caveat:  The factory continued producing Zeisel's designs for some time after she left, but often put different patterns on her shapes and also used her patterns on shapes which were not hers.  This happened particularly with the wildly popular Mondrian design, which often appears on non-Zeisel shapes.  As designs were completed and put into production they were given form (shape) numbers.  Recent research has indicated that Zeisel's design numbers began at about 3195 and ended at about 3470.  These numbers are not absolutely firm at this time; research continues, but the numbers given with each item listed will indicate if it is or is not a Zeisel design.   It is prudent to verify both the shape and the pattern when buying Schramberg.  

 

Another caveat:  Schramberg pottery was designed for mass production, and both the clay and glazes tended to chip easily.  It is all but impossible to find pristine "mint" pieces.  Many of these pieces have small glaze chips or use marks.  These are not noticeable except upon close inspection.  Please ask questions and we will give you a detailed description of any piece you are interested in.

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  pattern and shape are both Zeisel's

(6) cups #3214  $50.00 each

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

Pattern Gobelin 13 (by Zeisel): rust background with blocks of yellow, orange, and brown, rimmed with brown

 

 

 

  

          

   

    

                           

Pattern 3465 (by Zeisel): yellow, blue, orange, and white concentric circles, 

 

 

 

      

     

 

 

                                                             

                                                            1 cup & saucer set, #3214  $60. set 

                                                 (cup has noticeable inclusion    near the top rim)

 

 

 

  1 dessert plate (#unknown)  $30.00