Vintage VEB Haldensleben 3190 B Vase – East German DDR Pottery c.1960s–70s

A striking piece of vintage East German pottery by VEB Keramische Werke Haldensleben, with the impressed form number 3190 B clearly visible on the underside.

Standing approximately 12 cm / 4.75" high, this compact rounded vase has a wonderfully graphic Mid-Century design. The body is finished in a mottled coral-red glaze, interrupted by fine dark horizontal bands and a broad black geometric panel decorated with repeating cream zigzag/triangular lines.

The interior is finished in a contrasting warm cream glaze, while the low rounded form and relatively wide opening give the piece a distinctly modernist appearance.

The identification is supported by specialist German ceramic records, which specifically list 3190 B as a VEB Haldensleben vase form. The same reference currently records the décor name as unknown.

VEB Haldensleben was an East German state-owned ceramics producer formed from the former Carstens-Uffrecht operation after the Second World War. “VEB” stands for Volkseigener Betrieb, essentially a publicly/state-owned enterprise of the former German Democratic Republic. The factory became particularly known for decorative vases and produced numerous numbered forms.

Importantly, the 3190 number identifies the form rather than one particular decoration. Other surviving examples of the 3190 family occur with completely different glazes and decorative treatments.

Details

Maker: VEB Keramische Werke Haldensleben
Form: 3190 B
Origin: East Germany / GDR (DDR)
Period: Mid-century / vintage
Date: Approximately 1960s–70s
Height: approximately 12 cm / 4.75"
Material: Glazed ceramic
Colours: Coral red, black and cream
Decoration: Geometric zigzag/triangular band with fine horizontal lines
Base mark: Impressed 3190 B
Décor name: Currently unidentified

Condition

Good vintage condition with signs of age and previous display appropriate to a piece of East German pottery of this period.

The underside retains the original impressed 3190 B form mark. Please study all photographs carefully, including the base and rim, as they form part of the condition description.

It's a particularly appealing little example of DDR modernist pottery, with the strong red, black and cream geometry giving it considerably more personality than its modest 12 cm size suggests. ❤️🖤