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Ravelli

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Jaap Ravelli's pottery (Potterij Ravelli) operated from Valkenburg, near Leiden, The Netherlands, from 1944 - 1977. Ravelli pottery climbed sharply in value in the 1990, and then suffered a serious slump in prices after the stock market crash of 2000. The black-and-white tiles, the tribal pieces, the Colorite, and the one-offs or unique pieces turned and decorated by Jaap himself ('unicas', in Dutch) are the most expensive. Rumour has it that Ravelli made some of the unique pieces as gifts for his many female friends. The pottery is hardly known outside The Netherlands and most of the collectors are Dutch (although Ravelli did export across the world). The bright orange pieces and bark-effect vases are still affordable. For an excellent website with extensive photo galleries, see http://www.grul.nl/

Some of the information below was gleaned from 2 books (Marie-Rose Bogaers; and J.M. de Koning; see books page).

Magazine article (mid 50s)
Cut by seller from a Dutch magazine. She said the date was 1966, but since Ravelli was born in 1916, and is described in the article as being in his 30s, the article cannot be later than the mid fifties. This would also tie in with a 1955 date of the zebra-stripe vase he is shown holding in this photo (and also shown here, below) since it is described in the article as being one of his 'new' designs. Click here for the full article (in Dutch).

Unica

Note: unica is NOT a Ravelli name; it is simply the word used in general by Dutch ceramics collectors for one-off pieces of pottery (of any factory) of which only one example is known. Unica is the plural of unicum. Ravelli's one-off pieces, potted and decorated by Jaap Ravelli himself, bear the tall, scrawly signature J.J. Ravelli, as explained below.

Beige striped vase
This superb piece has a matt beige glaze and, on two sides, and incised wavy line in chocolate brown. Signed J.J. Ravelli, which indicates that it was made by Jaap Ravelli himself. See the table below for a note on Ravelli signatures and labels. Value: £150

See the table below for a note on Ravelli signatures, stamps and labels.

The normal production of hand-turned work by the regular factory employees carried either an impressed stamp or the name Ravelli incised by the worker (and therefore in various handwriting styles)

Yellow and black sticker applied to all pieces. Very small pieces have only the sticker and no impressed or incised name.

Signature for all one-off pieces (unica) personally made by J.J. Ravelli himself.

Black and white decor, c. 1955 - 1961

Slipcast, self-coloured, brownish-blackish-grey body, white glazed details (sometimes with an orange-peel effect), and dark brown glaze to the foot and interior of vases. Incised RAVELLI name and, usually, pattern number. Cheap imitations made in Holland at the end of the fifties had a white clay body overglazed in brownish-black. According to Bogaers, Ravelli's black and white range looked appealing against the blond wood furniture of the fifties. Occasionally, Ravelli applied polychrome glaze to their dark clay body to give the mosaic-like Colorite pattern. The Ravelli black and white ware is reminiscent of the 'Negro' (1953-58) and 'Domino' (1954-55) patterns designed for Upsala-Ekeby by Ingrid Atterberg.

Ceramic Mask
Date around 1955. Beautiful and rare African-influenced mask. Pristine condition, with cord for hanging. A range of these small to medium size items was produced, all sympathetically portraying aspects of tribal art and beauty. Also seen, for example, is a female mask decorated with metal attachments, that is stylistically similar to the 1950s African figures by Anzengruber of Vienna, Austria. A range of cute Ravelli animals was also produced in this two-tone colourway, and was made by handicapped people as part of a Social programme. Value: £150-200

Zebra pattern cigarette box No. 253
Date around 1955. The box has a lid with zebra pattern picked out in white glaze. The base is brown, is glazed in dark brown on the inside, and has a white applied rim. Also seen with white interior glaze. Scarce, and in mint condition. Value: £20-40

Cigarette holder
From a smoker's set, originally consisting of this pot, an ashtray, and a wood-handled pestle for snuffing out the ash. Pretty common in Holland. A zebra pattern cigarette box (above) and a zebra pattern table lighter, are also seen, but are not common. Value: £2-6 (this single item)

Vase No. 52
With beaked lip. The shape was influenced by a razor shell that Ravelli picked up on a beach. Minor traces of use, but no damage or crazing. The exterior has a black finish (which is either unglazed or matt glazed) and white glazed stripes inset into the body. The interior has a gloss, dark brown glaze. This vase is being held by Mr. Ravelli in the magazine ad., below. Value: £150-200

Vase No. 51
Incredibly sleek, torpedo-shaped vase with a 'cloven-hoof' foot. Mint condition. Value: £150-200

Vase or jug, No. 29C
Fifties styling on this piece, with a Henry Moore-like body hole. Also seen decorated with a diagonal swathe of white on one half of the body, matt blackish brown on the other. A few scuff marks on the body, and a pinhead-sized flea bite on the mouth. Value (with flea bite): £40-60

Vase or jug, No. 29
With a diagonal stripe of white glaze against black, unglazed clay. Mint condition. Value: £80-100

Ashtray, No. 242
Mint condition. Gift from Chiel.

Vase, No. 37
Beautiful vase in which the clay, instead of being left unglazed as in most of these pieces, has a black glaze to offset the fantastic flowing white stripes. Mint condition. Value: £100-150

Vase, No. 42-2
With a furrow running down two sides. Mint condition. Value: £80-100

Vase, No. 46-1
Vase with single furrow. Mint. Value: £80-100

Vase, No. 44-1
Square section vase with a slight spiral twist, two opposite panels in white glaze. Mint. Value: £60-80

African head, No. 632
Decorated with copper bands and earrings. Mint condition. Value: £150-200

African head, No. 632-D
With white and black spiral stripes on the neck. Mint condition. Value: £150-200

Ravelli

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