Homo Faber

PRESS EN Languages Account Follow us Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter
|
Presented by logo Homo Faber by Michelangelo Foundation
Explore Artisans Museums & Galleries Experience Itineraries About
© Michael Sälzer
© All rights reserved
© All rights reserved
© All rights reserved
© All rights reserved

Michael Sälzer

Michael Sälzer Ceramicist
Contact
German, English, French
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+49 (0)67741452
© All rights reserved

Working with the two faces of clay

  • • Michael fires his pieces in a wood kiln he built himself
  • • He uses his very own engobes and glazes
  • • He is inspired by the traditional vessels of his home region

Michael Sälzer’s path in ceramics started with his need for a change. “I was a frustrated law student in west Berlin,” he explains. “I suddenly remembered when a potter visited my elementary school and showed us how to make vessels on his potter’s wheel. Like in a movie, I could recall every single movement and was firmly convinced that I would be able to do this as well.” Following this sudden intuition, he went back to his home region, the Westerwald, to become a ceramicist. Today, Michael Sälzer is known worldwide for captivating works which combine tradition and innovation, and also for his technical knowledge in the construction of kilns.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Michael Sälzer
  • © Michael Sälzer
  • © Michael Sälzer
  • © Michael Sälzer
  • © Michael Sälzer
Photo: © Michael Sälzer
Tea Bowl

Michael threw this chawan (tea bowl) on the wheel using stoneware clay from the German Westerwald. He altered the shape by hand and finished it with a shino glaze and a salt glaze. The production stages and application of the glaze are clearly visible, characteristic of Michael’s philosophy as an artisan, where each step in the process is planned and of equal importance to the overall piece.

Height 7 cm
Diameter 11 cm

Photo: © Michael Sälzer
Free-curved

Using clay from the German Westerwald, Michael crafted this salt-glazed vessel by combining slabs of structured stoneware. The production stages and application of the glaze are clearly visible. This is an important characteristic of Michael’s work, underlining his philosophy as an artisan, where each step in the production process is planned and of equal importance to the overall piece.

Height 28 cm
Diameter 11 cm

Photo: © Michael Sälzer
Bottle-like

Crafted from stoneware clay from the German Westerwald, this vessel was assembled from several wheel-thrown parts then turned once more to achieve its final form. It was then decorated with various toned glazes.

Height 32 cm
Diameter 12 cm

Photo: © Michael Sälzer
Pretty Dancing

The body of this stoneware vessel was wheel-thrown using clay from the German Westerwald. The neck was altered and the handles shaped by hand.

Height 31 cm
Diameter 23 cm

Photo: © Michael Sälzer
Soul House

This salt-glazed vessel was built from slabs of structured stoneware, using clay from the German Westerwald. The production stages and application of the glaze are visible, an important characteristic of Michael’s work. It underlines his philosophy as an artisan, where each step in the production process is planned and of equal importance to the overall piece.

Height 29 cm
Width 18 cm

Enjoy an experience with Michael Sälzer

You may also like

Download the app

Find all the Homo Faber Guide content at hand, save, like and much more!