NEW YORK, NY.- Rago and LAMA will present The Private Collection of Gertrud & Otto Natzler, a landmark auction taking place on January 22nd featuring 56 ceramic works drawn entirely from the Natzler Family Trust Collection. This debut presentation offers an unprecedented opportunity to acquire works selected and preserved by the artists themselves, celebrating one of the most influential partnerships in the history of studio ceramics.
Gertrud and Otto Natzler arrived in Los Angeles in October 1938 after fleeing Vienna in the wake of Hitler’s invasion of Austria, bringing with them little more than their kiln, potter’s wheel, and a singular artistic vision that would transform American ceramics. Their work introduced a refined language of form and surface unlike anything then being produced in the United States, born from a seamless collaboration between Gertrud’s wafer-thin, exquisitely balanced terracotta vessels and Otto’s more than 2,000 innovative glazes, many developed specifically to complement her precise curves and angles. Together, they created ceramics of striking elegance and originality that quickly drew the attention of museums, collectors, galleries, and fellow artists alike.
Spanning both exhibited and never-before-exhibited works, the ceramics in this auction include pieces the Natzlers retained in their personal collection because they felt they achieved exceptional success in both form and glaze. Among the many notable works are a Tall bottle form (est. $25,000–35,000) with Verdigris Crater glaze, a Tall vase form with cupped top (est. $25,000–35,000), a Cylindrical bottle form with tall neck (est. $9,000–12,000) and a Teardrop bottle with cupped top (est. $8,000–12,000). Additional forms include bowls, closed forms, sculpture, trays, and lighting.
Otto discreetly marked a number of these special works with small pieces of red or silver tape, or a red adhesive dot, applied to the underside of the base. These markings were never publicized during his lifetime and were intended solely as a private notation. All such markings present on the works in this sale are original, authentic, and applied by Otto himself.
Together, the works in The Private Collection of Gertrud & Otto Natzler offer an intimate view into the evolution of one of the most significant ceramic partnerships of the 20th century. Rago and LAMA are honored to partner with the Natzler Family Trust Collection to present this first auction in a series drawn from this extraordinary holding—preserved for decades and now brought to market—offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire works that defined and continue to shape modern ceramics.
Selections from The Private Collection of Gertrud & Otto Natzler will be exhibited in New York from January 9th to 16th in the Rago / Wright gallery at 501 West 20th Street. The Private Collection of Gertrud & Otto Natzler is a live auction in Lambertville beginning at 11 am eastern on Thursday, January 22nd.
