Terra Ceramics (Terrama)

Designer	Bernhard Fiegel
Maker	Terra Ceramics / Terama
Marks	Incided TC to base
Description	Teardrop shape bowl and handle
Number
Production Date
Width	135mm	5 3/8”
Depth	38mm	1 ½”
Length (with handle)	164mm	6 ½”
Weight	210gm	7 ½ 0z
Volume	325ml	11.44 fl oz
Acquisition

Bernhard Fiegel was born in Germany on the 1^st January 1919. He arrived in Darwin by air, 8^th November 1939 as a stateless person. Moving to Paddington, Sydney, where he enlisted for service in Australia during World War 2. Teaching pottery at Ingleburn” in the Australian Convalescent Depot he worked with Guy Boyd, after Boyd had worked as a cartographer with John Perceval. Feigel was a Dutch-trained potter and Jewish immigrant whose family had fled Germany at the beginning of WW2. In 1946, following his discharge, he set up a ceramics business in Ashfield, Sydney, later moving to Greenacre. He produced a variety of ceramic wares using the brands “Terama” and Terra Ceramics”. He continued production until the early 1980s. These teardrop shape ramekins are an example of the elegant simplicity of his later work.

In 1981 Bernhard died, but twelve months earlier he had started negotiations with Trugrit Manufacturing Ltd to have his product made in NZ under licence. A new company "Terra Ceramics NZ" was formed using the same raw materials and clay body. They then shipped all of their moulds and other machinery over to Aukland in containers. This new company was run by Mr Ernie Copper, a qualified Ceramist. The new company was located at 18 Copsey Place ,Rosebank Rd, Avondale, Auckland. H.Hemara, now the elder statesman of New Zealand pottery was working there when the crates containing the moulds were opened in New Zealand. Moulds for Terra were later produced at the Henderson pottery. Initially, the company used the same stickers but later changed them to read Terra Ceramics, New Zealand. Hemara is still making pottery along with his son Paul. So is Terra Ceramics New Zealand.