Large Studio Pottery Gourd-Shaped Flower Vase by Elsa Bennatar

This is a striking example of a ceramic flower vase produced by Elsa Benattar.

The vase has a flared rim surmounting a short galleried section. Below this, the elongated neck tapers in and then widens out again to meet the gourd-shaped body.

The body is glazed in layers, with a streaked and mottled finish in rust tones. This terminates just above the base. The latter is unglazed, revealing the underlying ceramic body to be a grey-beige stoneware. This bears concentric rings and a small uneven flaw at the edge where the piece was cut from the potter’s wheel with wire.

There is an applied discoid seal below the rim bearing the initials ‘EB’. This is attributable to Elsa Benattar, who has been producing pieces since 1970.

It has a height of approximately 28.0cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 8.9cm and across the base of about 11.3cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 1770g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although as previously mentioned there is a flaw at the edge of the base where the piece was removed from the potter’s wheel.