Michael Sälzer

Ceramicist

©Michael Sälzer

Working with the two faces of clay

Michael fires his pieces in a wood kiln he built himself
He uses his very own engobes and glazes
He is inspired by the traditional vessels of his home region

Michael Sälzer’s path in ceramics started with his need for a change. “I was a frustrated law student in west Berlin,” he explains. “I suddenly remembered when a potter visited my elementary school and showed us how to make vessels on his potter’s wheel. Like in a movie, I could recall every single movement and was firmly convinced that I would be able to do this as well.” Following this sudden intuition, he went back to his home region, the Westerwald, to become a ceramicist. Today, Michael Sälzer is known worldwide for captivating works which combine tradition and innovation, and also for his technical knowledge in the construction of kilns.

Interview

Did you build your own kiln?: Yes, almost all my pieces are made in the small wood kiln I developed in 1985. The construction principle and materials enable an efficient firing process that delivers the desired results while conserving resources.
How do you work with the properties of clay?: On the wheel, I try to let the rhythm of the movement become visible. The vessels don’t move quietly on the wheel, but dance. When I assemble the vessels, I stretch them so that expansion cracks and sharp edges remain, making visible the double nature of clay: softness and asperity.
Has the relevance of ceramics changed?: Yes, I think so. Vessels have largely lost their traditional function. Their meaning has shifted from objects of daily use to ritual objects. This change is reflected in my pieces, all of which are unique and characterised by a personal aesthetic.
What does this mean for the future of crafts?: In the age of 'abundance' a new function for artisanal craft will emerge: a new appreciation for the actions of everyday life or a celebration of the special moment. Perhaps it will be the one-of-a-kind vessels that characterise our time, in which the individual seems to be the centre of attention.

Michael Sälzer is a master artisan: he began his career in 1980 and he started teaching in 1986