Archais Bisque Porcelain Calabash Vase – Heinrich Fuchs for Hutschenreuther, 1960s–1970s

A bisque porcelain vase from Heinrich Fuchs’ celebrated Archais series, created for Lorenz Hutschenreuther during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Defined by its pleated, ridged surface and softly faceted calabash form, the piece reflects Fuchs’ distinctive balance of organic volume and geometric precision. The matte bisque finish heightens the play of light and shadow, giving the vase a quiet optical presence closely aligned with the Op Art sensibility associated with the designer.

• Dimensions: Vase: H 20 cm
• Material: Unglazed bisque porcelain
  
• Brand: Lorenz Hutschenreuther
  
• Designer: Heinrich Fuchs
  
• Color: Matte white / warm white
  
• Era: Mid-century modern, late 1960s–1970s
  
• Origin: Germany
  
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; minor age-related wear consistent with careful use. No chips, cracks, or restorations mentioned.
  

This vase has a quietly monumental quality despite its modest scale. The bisque surface softens the form, while the ridged geometry gives it a more architectural tension that feels very grounded in late modernist interiors.

Heinrich Fuchs (1928–2013) was one of the most visionary designers of mid-century German porcelain, best known for his Op-Art inspired work for Hutschenreuther. From 1965–1970 he created a radically new aesthetic for the manufactory, replacing Rococo florals with abstraction, minimalism and experimental relief surfaces. His celebrated Calabash and Archais series (15 different vases) explore repetitive geometric and nature-inspired textures – from bark to seashell structures – in matte or clear-glazed white, and are now highly sought-after collector pieces.

Hutschenreuther is a historic German porcelain brand whose roots go back to 1814, when Carolus Magnus Hutschenreuther founded a porcelain factory in Hohenberg an der Eger. His son Lorenz established a separate porcelain factory in Selb in 1857, which grew into Lorenz Hutschenreuther AG, acquiring several other factories. In 1969 the two branches merged as Hutschenreuther AG; since 2000 the Hutschenreuther brand has belonged to Rosenthal and today continues as part of the Sambonet Paderno / Arcturus group.