Jaroslav Ježek - Modernist Czech Pottery

Pinterest has been providing me with some really interesting sources to follow up since I started with it a few weeks ago...and amongst them the amazing designs of Czech ceramicist Jaroslav Ježek ( 1923 - 2002).

I followed a link from Pinterest to a specialist Czech blog, which translates well enough in English to be able to follow. The blog is called Expo58 and is full of superb design based around the "Brussels Style" full of the most amazing goodies. Unless otherwise mentioned, the images in this post are from the Expo58 blog.

I know practically nothing about Czech pottery or glass, and in general Eastern European design isn't that well known here, and it rarely comes up at auctions. I've only had one series of Czech pottery which was totally different to anything I had seen before....so it has been great to find this whole world of Czech design which is all new to me.

ABOVE: pieces from the "loucky"range

Jezek has a comprehensive Wikpedia entry which is easiest to quote: 

Jaroslav Ježek, nephew of the Czech composer Jaroslav Ježek, was born in 1923 in the village of Podlesí near Příbram Between 1945 and 1949 he studied Art Education under Professor Sejpka, Cyril Bouda and Karel Lidický at Charles University in Prague but on the recommendation of Professor Eckert, of the Atelier of Porcelain and Ceramics (a department of the Prague Academy of Performing Arts he decided to concentrate instead on industrial production.

Ježek left Charles University for a scholarship place in the art department of the Thun porcelain manufactory in Klášterec nad Ohří, and remained there until 1954. In 1955 he was recruited by the new state-run industrial porcelain development center at Lesov near Karlovy Vary. 

In 1957 Ježek was invited to create designs for the Expo '58in Brussels His porcelain set Elka was exhibited there, and was awarded the Expo Grand Prix for Ceramics. Ježek also designed the porcelain set Asmanit for the Brussels' Expo restaurant.

The "Elka" set 1958 Brussels Expo Grand Prix

He was one of the leading exponents for the "Brussels style", which was characterised by the use of organic shapes, diagonal elements and surfaces marked by pastel shadows of yellow, purple, green, azure and gray. It later became a signature design style in many Czech households. Other exponents of the "Brussels style" applied it to synthetic materials such as plastics, laminates and Formica.

Continue to read the full article, including the production names of his designs HERE

"Bridget"design 1962

"Aurelia" 1967

"Elka" Tea Service from a fantastic  find on 100 Czech Design Icons - HERE

BLING! Love it. ...."Salky"? from HERE

"Orava" 1960