Royal Haeger, “Etruscan” decor

Looking across the pond in the late 60s, Royal Haeger ceramist Helmut Bruchmann decided to take a page from the successful German playbook and try a true lava glaze. He succeeded and “Etruscan,” a line bearing his glaze, was produced. It’s an interesting line, with shapes which evoke Antiquity, some fascinating base glazes, and textures reminiscent of dirt-encrusted treasures pulled from an archaeological dig. The delicate elegance of the line avoided the grandmotherly feeling of Royal Haeger’s other products at that time because of Bruchmann’s granular, naturalistic glaze, but it wasn’t to American tastes — Etruscan only lasted two years, from 1966-1967.