About Wil de Boed, collector of abstract art deco
airbrush decorated ceramics:
tart dishes, mugs and mantel clocks
Although he lives in the Netherlands, his collection of ceramics with
abstract, art deco airbrush decorations started in Belgium. Approximately
in the year 1989 he bought his first tart dish, for about 2.5 euros,
in the small Belgian village of Stockay.
As things go with collectors, he got hungry for more. These days he
owns over 400 tart dishes Most of them are of German origin with a minority
from eastern Europe countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia. He has
now expanded his collection and owns also about 60 mugs and 30 mantel
clocks.
About abstract art deco airbrush ceramic
tart dishes, mugs and mantel clocks
Stamps
Several factories did not always use their own brand in the production
process. When an important customer, for instance a company of department
stores, bought many pieces, it could have its own stamp on the bottom
of the ceramics. Such was the case with the Stamps GEHA and ROBO, that
were probably produced at De Sphinx in Maastricht, the Netherlands. In
Germany at least Paetsch has also produced ceramics under the brand-stamp
WIDO. Possibly export was another reason to change names. Presumably
also some metalwork factories have placed their stamps on ceramics like
tart dishes and cake boxes that they equipped with metal grips.
Conduct of business
Not only the decorations are modern by the present-day standards, the
conduct of business was so in some respects as well. Just like these
days there were fusions and take-overs in the thirties. As an example
Petrus Regout from Maastricht merged with De Sphinx. There are stamps
known on which both companies are stated. Afterwards it is only De Sphinx.
In Germany Staffel was overtaken by Colditz AG.
Modern
Anyway, the form and the decoration will of course always be the most
important. Many cake dishes and mugs still look modern and up to date
these days. Partially this has to do with the at the time futuristic
decorations. Beyond that the form is sort of neutral as opposed to some
other ceramic products like certain clocks with vases. When suddenly
art deco became in fashion, ceramics factories did not find it hard to
actualise decorations thanks to the airbrush techniques. Producing different
ceramic forms though, was of course much more expensive. And that in
certain cases has lead to the most beautiful cubistic decorations on ‘Baroque’ or ‘Rococo’ like
earthenware forms.
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