This is a hand painted 9" midcentury modern ceramic vase circa 1950's made by NEHEMIAH AZAZ for HARSA POTTERY, Israel. The abstract geometric design is glazed in green and blue over off-white clay. HARSA Pottery was founded in 1955 to produce sanitary fittings. Shortly after NEHEMIAH AZAZ joined HARSA in 1955, he founded the Ceramic Art Department using local colors and materials. It produced decorative wares for ten (10) years only until 1966. At its peak, the department employed 30 workers. After AZAZ left the department circa 1960, it was run by PNINA ZAMIR AMIR. The pottery produced by HARSA during this period was primarily modernist in style and characterized by the use of geometric styles and abstract decoration. These designs were influenced by the tradition of modernist design, from designs created in Europe during this same period, and therefore by what was perceived as the expression of Land of Israel "localness." AZAZ, for example, stated that his forms were influenced by the desert landscape. During this time, HARSA created an original body of work which was commercially successful in the young Israel and abroad and increased the number of employees in the factory, especially women from Beer Sheva and the surroundings, and so enabled tens of women to specialize in drawing on ceramics. The principle introduced by AZAZ was simple: the sanitary fittings loaded in the kiln took a certain volume, but the spaces between the basins and toilets could be filled by the artistic pots at no extra firing cost. Despite the relatively short period of time, the artistic department at HARSA made a big cultural contribution. The model of cooperation between artists and industry – common in Europe – was very successful at HARSA and AZAZ noted that the closing of the department was not for economic reasons but internal politics at the factory and the lack of protection from Kor – the owners of the factory. NEHEMIA AZAZ (1923 to 2008) was an Israeli sculptor, ceramicist and architectural artist, who spent half of his working life in the UK. Best known in Israel as the founder of the Department of Artistic Ceramics at the HARSA factory in Beersheba. AZAZ made his studio base in Oxfordshire, England from the late 1960’s onwards, working in stained glass, wood, concrete, bronze, brass, copper and aluminium. PNINA ZAMIR AMIR was born 1929 in Romania and died in Israel in 2011. She studied Ceramics with Gian Battista Valentini in Faenza, Italy in 1958 and she taught Ceramic Technology at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Bezalel from 1959-62. In excellent, unused condition. Will be bubble wrapped, boxed and SHIPPED FREE. We are experienced shippers and use primarily RECYCLED SHIPPING MATERIALS. Thanks for looking. FUNTIQUESMCM BUY ANTIQUES. THEY'RE ALREADY RECYCLED. We're retired so we're selling our 40+ year collection before our kids give it all to Goodwill. Our original business name since 1988 has been FUNTIQUES but we're now FUNTIQUESMCM to reflect our love of midcentury design. E-15