VEB Steingutfabrik Strehla models (l. to r.) 1181 (17.75cm), 1179 (21cm), and 1182 (17.75cm)

Strehla Ceramic Works dates its origin back to 1828. After World War 2, the factory — which found itself in the newly created German Democratic Republic (GDR, aka East Germany) — was “expropriated” *ahem* by the State and renamed VEB Steingutfabrik Strehla. Personally, I have found GDR mid-century ceramics difficult to like as the creative freedom and daring found in West German ceramics at that time is sorely lacking in GDR products (understandable, as Communism was no fan of the arts nor a fun regime under which to be an artist). I made an exception for these three pieces here simply because they show how trends affected production across Europe. In approximately 1957, Bitossi started making Rimini blue and mustard yellow versions of an “onion dome” vase as part of its “Liberty” range. As they are easy to find today, they must have been popular — and other manufacturers took note, to include Swedish company Upsala Ekeby (which made a mixed chamotte and glossy glaze version called “Moské” in 1967-68) and Strehla, at an undetermined date with its pieces shown here. Considering onion domes are a common feature of Russian Orthodox churches, one would think a company under the Soviet sphere of influence would have thought of the idea for this style first!