Collection: Roth Keramik (Germany)

Roth Keramik is associated with the sculptural West German decorative pottery of the 1960s and 1970s. Its bold forms and contrasting glazes place it within the wider post-war interest in expressive ceramics, often discussed under the ‘Fat Lava’ umbrella. Mark Hill’s account of the first Fat Lava exhibition specifically identifies a display of Roth’s work as typical 1970s designs.

Roth featured in the 2006 exhibition of Dr Graham Cooley’s collection at King’s Lynn Arts Centre, alongside manufacturers including Ruscha, Scheurich and Otto Keramik. It was also represented in the subsequent Fat Lava II exhibition in 2008. Writing about that second exhibition, Hill singled out the displayed Roth vases as a personal favourite and described the strong attention they were receiving from collectors. His discussion records their place in the rediscovery of post-war German ceramics, rather than establishing original production quantities.

Hill’s Fat Lava: West German Ceramics of the 1960s–70s includes a dedicated Roth Keramik chapter. The publisher notes that the fourth edition incorporates updated maker information and revised attributions across the catalogue. This continuing research is important when identifying individual pieces: a familiar glaze or sculptural shape should be considered alongside documented examples, rather than treated as conclusive evidence on its own.

Further reading: Mark Hill: Fat Lava exhibition; Mark Hill: Fat Lava II exhibition; Mark Hill: Fat Lava, fourth edition.