There is something immediately honest about a piece of Fat Lava pottery. The texture demands to be touched. The colour palette — earthy, warm, slightly volcanic — feels rooted in a very particular moment in postwar design history. This large Bay Keramik vase from 1962 is a confident example of everything collectors prize in West German mid-century ceramics.

The exterior is finished in a tactile charcoal lava glaze, interrupted by rolling bands of warm orange, brown, and soft off-white. The surface is matte and sculptural, with the kind of depth that changes depending on where the light falls. Flip it over and the contrast continues: the interior is lined in a vibrant glossy yellow, a detail that speaks to the playful confidence of the era’s ceramic designers. At 30 cm tall, it has genuine decorative presence — whether displayed alone or grouped with other mid-century ceramics and art glass.

Details & Specifications

Maker: Bay Keramik, West Germany
Year: 1962
Style: Fat Lava, Mid-century German pottery
Glaze: Charcoal lava glaze exterior; glossy yellow interior
Colours: Charcoal, orange, brown, soft off-white, yellow
Base mark: West Germany 650-30
Label: Original Bay Keramik label retained
Height: Approx. 30 cm (12 inches)
Diameter: Approx. 14.5 cm (5.75 inches)

Condition

Good vintage condition
Minor age-related wear including a few light surface scratches consistent with age and use

Why It Endures

Fat Lava ceramics occupy a particular place in mid-century design — bold enough to anchor a shelf, tactile enough to hold attention up close. This Bay Keramik vase carries the full character of the form: an unmistakable glaze, an honest maker’s mark, and an original label still in place after more than six decades. It arrives carefully packed and shipped with tracking from Sweden.

Products in basket
Product	Details	Total
	Available on back-order Previous price: Discounted price:	Save