Obituary: Eva Zeisel, Ceramic Designer, 105
GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 1/3/2012 3:34:57 PM
New York - Ceramic artist Eva Zeisel passed away on December 30 at the age of 105.
Zeisel was born on November 13, 1906, in Budapest as Eva Amalia Striker. According to the New York Times, her father owned a textile factory and her mother was a historian, feminist and political activist. She entered the Hungarian Royal Academy of Fine Arts as a painter in 1923, but soon decided that she wanted to become a "maker of useful things," according to the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum. She apprenticed herself to a pottery master in the medieval guild system and worked her way up to master.
At 29, she was named artistic director of the Russian china and glass industry, but seven years later she was falsely accused of participating in an assassination plot against Stalin. She spent sixteen months in prison, twelve of them in solitary confinement. On her release she moved to Vienna, and later escaped Austria to England on the eve of the Nazi invasion.
Zeisel eventually settled in the U.S., where she developed designs for fine china companies and major department stores. Her work can be seen everywhere from design studio KleinReid to Crate & Barrel. To view a slideshow of some of her designs, visit washingtonpost.com.
According to Artlyst, Zeisel's works are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum; Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum and The Museum of Modern Art, New York; the British Museum; The Victoria and Albert Museum, London and many more.
She received the two highest civilian awards from the Hungarian government, the Lifetime Achievement award from the Cooper-Hewett National Design Museum, the Pratt Legends award and awards from the Industrial Designers Society of America and Alfred University. She is an honorary member of the Royal Society of Industrial Designers, and has received honorary degrees from Parsons (New School), Rhode Island School of Design, the Royal College of Art, and the Hungarian University of the Arts.
In addition to her daughter Jean and son John, Zeisel is survived by three grandchildren. Hans Zeisel, a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago, died in 1992.
It was my pleasure to have known 'Aunt Eva'. She had a studio office in her nephews, John Striker, publishing company. She was there frequently and I had the honor of spending many hours talking to her. Her quiet and innocent application to her creations were beautiful. I'll cherish the memories.
Michael Koplin - 2012-01-06 22:02:19 ESTWhat an amazing life.
Thank you Mrs. Zeisel for sharing your Gift with the World. God Bless.
Joleyne Blain - 2012-01-04 21:43:04 EST
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