Walburga Külz
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Walburga Külz (1921–2002) was an important German ceramicist whose work occupies a distinctive position between sculpture, design, and architectural ceramics. Active primarily from the 1960s through the 1980s, Külz is known for her experimental lighting objects and ceramic wall pieces, in which material, surface, and spatial presence take precedence over conventional functionality.
This ceramic wall lamp produced around 1970–1975, exemplifies Külz’s mature practice. Created in Erbach/Rheingau, the lamp is formed from light, stoneware-like ceramic with a brown matte glaze, combined with angular stripes in white . The bow-like body emphasizes solidity and architectural restraint.
The lamp is equipped with two internal light sources, positioned above and below, and features simple original wiring. Rather than functioning as a purely utilitarian object, the work operates as a sculptural wall piece in which light activates the ceramic surface and form.
Her work has been exhibited in “VAN SCHIP NAAR OBJECT” (2001) at the Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Gera, and the University Museum Marburg, underscoring Külz’s relevance within the discourse of applied arts and sculptural ceramics in postwar Germany.
Today, Walburga Külz’s work is recognized for its synthesis of material experimentation, architectural form, and expressive glazing, positioning her as a significant figure in 20th-century German ceramic and design history.
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