EVA ZEISEL

This post is about one of my favorite designers, the intriguing, spirited and lovely Eva Zeisel. Eva is world renewoned for her ceramics and industrial designs and when she was in her early 90s, she started designing tables. I can only wish I have her energy and creativity at that age. I am so drawn to the simple, fluid forms and the romantic curves of her pieces that I finally just splurged and bought myself her large pillow vase from Unica Home. -my first art purchase other than photography and so I can’t wait until my livingroom is complete so that I can display it.

Born in Hungary in 1906, Zeisel began her career at 18 as an apprentice potter. After jobs in various ceramics factories, she traveled to Russia where she worked her way up to art director of the state china and glass industry. In 1936, she was accused of plotting against the government by plotting an assassination on Stalin, and imprisoned for more than a year in a Soviet prison in solitary confinement. She resisted her interrogators until one day where, she “betrayed her dignity with a false confession.” But, rather than shoot her, as she thought they would, her captors deported her to Vienna, where she miraculously caught the last train out before the Nazi invasion. Unbelievable!

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Eva at 'the day job' and came oh so close to working with her on a project. I just adored her. She has such an amazing spirit and sense of humor and even at 101 years old she is still designing today. I was crushed when the project was killed, to no fault of Eva's of course.




Top left: Eva, photographed at her Rockland Country studio, surrounded by her designs via NY Magazine
Top right: Pilllow vase from Unica Home
Bottom Left: Eva Small Med and Large Vases via Room and Board
Bottom Right: Harmony Vase from Nambe