Natzler: Austrian-American Studio Ceramics by Gertrud & Otto Natzler
The Natzlers -- Gertrud (1908-1971) and Otto (1908-2007) -- were a husband-and-wife team who created some of the most important studio ceramics of the 20th century. Born in Vienna, they began collaborating in 1933, with Gertrud throwing the forms and Otto developing the glazes. After fleeing Austria in 1938, they settled in Los Angeles, where they produced work for over three decades. Their pieces are renowned for Gertrud's paper-thin, elegantly proportioned forms and Otto's extraordinary range of glazes, which he cataloged in a personal system of over 2,500 formulas.
Identification & Marks
- Signature: Most pieces are signed "Natzler" in script on the base, incised into the clay before firing
- Glaze notation: Otto recorded a glaze code (letter-number combination like "M582" or "K37") on many pieces, corresponding to his personal glaze catalog
- Paper labels: Some pieces retain original paper labels from exhibitions or galleries
- After 1971: Following Gertrud's death, Otto created slab-built forms that are distinctly different from the thrown work -- these are signed "Otto Natzler"
- Size: Most thrown pieces are intimate in scale, typically 3-8 inches in height
Glaze Types & Styles
- Reduction glazes: Rich, deep colors achieved through oxygen-starved kiln atmospheres -- among the most prized
- Crater/lava glazes: Volcanic, textured surfaces with bubbled and pitted effects; highly sought after
- Pompeian glazes: Matte, earth-toned surfaces inspired by ancient Roman pottery
- Sang glazes: Deep red copper-reduction glazes, extremely difficult to achieve
- Crystalline glazes: Featuring visible crystal formations within the glaze surface
- Tigereye: A distinctive amber-brown glaze with chatoyant effects
Auction Price Ranges
| Type | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bowl, standard glaze | $1,500 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Bowl, crater/lava glaze | $5,000 | $15,000 | $40,000 |
| Tall vase, reduction glaze | $8,000 | $20,000 | $50,000 |
| Large bowl, exceptional glaze | $10,000 | $30,000 | $80,000+ |
| Otto solo slab form | $2,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 |
| Early Vienna period piece | $3,000 | $8,000 | $20,000 |
Condition Factors
- Given the thinness of Gertrud's forms, even minor chips significantly impact value
- Glaze crawling or bare spots are generally intentional and part of the aesthetic
- Crazing in certain glaze types is expected and does not reduce value
- Pieces with documented exhibition history command 20-50% premiums
- Original gallery labels and provenance documentation enhance value considerably
Collecting Tips
- Glaze quality is the primary value driver -- a spectacular crater or lava glaze on a modest form can outvalue a large piece with a standard glaze
- The Natzler archive, now at the Smithsonian, documents most known pieces; cross-referencing glaze codes adds provenance value
- Early Vienna pieces (1933-1938) are rare and historically important
- Otto's post-1971 slab constructions are a separate collecting category and currently undervalued relative to the collaborative thrown work
- Fakes are uncommon due to the difficulty of replicating Otto's glazes, but misattributed pieces from other California studio potters occasionally surface