Theo & Susan Harlander
Title: ” Important Studio Pottery Figural Bottle Vase ”
Size: 11 7/8” high ……… $950.00 Canadian
Circa: 1960s
Markings: Hand-incised “HTS” studio monogram and incised “BROOKLIN • ONTARIO • CANADA” to base.
An exceptional, museum-grade, hand-thrown stoneware bottle vase from the 1960s by renowned artists Theo (1921–1994) and Susan Harlander (1927–2005). Crafted at their Brooklin, Ontario studio, this piece highlights the peak of mid-century Canadian modernism.
Featuring a meticulously incised, sgraffito-style cubist narrative, the vessel is finished in a high-contrast, chocolate-and-tan matte iron oxide wash. The piece showcases a distinct, hand-stamped “HTS” studio monogram and incised “BROOKLIN • ONTARIO • CANADA” marking on the base.
Agnatic Period Attribution & Stylistic Merits
A masterwork from the most celebrated era of the Brooklin Pottery studio, this vessel can be confidently attributed to the artists’ peak creative period of the 1960s based on three defining physical characteristics:
•Virtuosic Sgraffito Density: Unlike early 1950s work which featured isolated, sparse figure placement, this vase exemplifies Susan Harlander’s mid-career transition into complex, dense, all-over structural storytelling. The interlocking cubist figures envelop the entire form without leaving empty space.
•Modernist Materiality: The shift from glossy, brightly colored slips to this matte, heavily mottled iron oxide wash reflects the global Brutalist craft movement of the 1960s, a textured, volcanic aesthetic that defines the pinnacle of mid-century Canadian studio arts.
•Aapex Architectural Profile: The monumental 11 7/8” tapered “bottle-neck” silhouette represents Theo Harlander’s most premium design form from the 1960s—drawing heavy inspiration from mid-century Scandinavian and Italian imports before the studio transitioned primarily to smaller giftware lines in later decades.
Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition
•Glaze: Rich, native iron oxide wash with natural firing variations.
•Surface: Detailed hand-carved graphic outlines throughout.
•Structure: Perfectly preserved; no chips, cracks, or fractures.