Soon after I started collecting West-German Pottery, I learned about Ruscha wall plates. They are stunning, and I loved the idea that you could have a ceramic painting on your wall. Long story short, I wanted one. Even more specifically I wanted the large Ruscha wall tile with horses and a chariot, as the oranges and blues against the copper background are so pretty, and it such a strong image.
Back then, I was a student without a car, so my budget and hunting grounds were limited. After a few months, I got lucky and found a relatively cheap one online. My then boyfriend was so kind to drive me to Amsterdam to pick it up. The man who sold it had an AMAZING mid-century modern interior, which became my new interior decorating life goal if I ever got a real adult house.
Back then, I was a student without a car, so my budget and hunting grounds were limited. After a few months, I got lucky and found a relatively cheap one online. My then boyfriend was so kind to drive me to Amsterdam to pick it up. The man who sold it had an AMAZING mid-century modern interior, which became my new interior decorating life goal if I ever got a real adult house.
When I proudly showed the tile to my parents, my dad told me that his parents had the exact same tile in their hallway! I must have seen it a hundred times, and it might have subconsciously influenced my style later, but I have to admit I couldn't actively remember it. My grandparents had a beautiful interior, with many antique pieces, but I love the fact that they were hip enough to have had some West-German pottery as well!
Nowadays, my grandparents' tile hangs in my parents' house. My tile had pride of place in my student room, and also in my later homes. It currently hangs in my "library".
A few birthdays ago I was surprised to find that there are variants of this wall tile, as my parents gifted me a beautiful vertical variant. (If you have read more of my blog, you'll know that my parents are the best Birthday Gift Givers ever, and many of the best pieces in my collection are thanks to them.) My collection got expanded with a tile with only the horses as well.
As much as I love all three tiles, I do think the design with the four horse chariot is the best. For me it is an iconic Ruscha item, and I love that the design has its roots in history. As far back as Egyptian times, there are depictions of horse chariots, as you can see here. Scheurich and Jopeko also made vases with this design. I think it was one of the designs on wall times that Ruscha produced most, as you see it reasonably often.
Last year I was surprised at a flea market to find another version of the four horse chariot design, but this time with a light background! I hadn't seen that color combination ever before, but it works really well.
For a few months this has adorned my walls with the other tiles, but as I was surprised with another Ruscha wall tile, a rare and beautiful bull, I have now put it in the shop. I have an agreement with my husband that if I add a piece, I also have to sell one. (This counts for books, my other love, as well). As much as I love West-German pottery, I just cannot keep it all!
As Ruscha made many beautiful wall tiles, I would love to hear (or even see) what your favorite is in the comments!
