This Norica Art Nouveau Jugendstil art pottery vase stands a tall 11" high by 8" in diameter, 7" at the base, and 4.5" in diameter at the rim. It has a wonderful form with three leafy tendril handles eminating from the base and rising to the collar. It has a killer glaze in a ground of slate blue, with charcoal and frothy white drip glazes covering the lower half of the vessel, and blue drips at the rim. This pottery was designed by Carl Ludwig Luber c1900-1906. The glaze feels so good in hand, and gives this pot a 'pick-me-up' attitude. This vessel is well marked on the base with the Norica ink stamp, which reads 'NORICA' and likely the letters 'J.V.S.' for Johann von Schwarz below, which are smudged in the ink stamp of the pottery buildings below, but Johann von Schwarz's initials were part of the ink stamp because he started the company. There are a series of numbers, which are likely shape numbers and/or potter's marks. This pot is in original factory condition, no apologies. Like many of the old pottery makers in Europe, Norica Pottery has a great history. It was located in Nuremberg-Ostbahnhof, Bavaria. Referred to as 'Kunst-Töpferei', which was a term for pottery with artistic aspirations, made in relatively small quantities, between 1870-1930. The firm named Johann von Schwarz (1802-1885) was founded about 1859 in Nürnberg as a Specksteingasbrenner factory, or Soapstone gas burner factory. They first started to produce their own terra cotta wares in 1866, followed by majolica ware and art  faience in 1870. During this period they had around 150 employees. When Johann died in 1855, his sons Benedict (1825-1895) and Ludwig (1828-1912) ran the company. In 1895 the two sons of Benedict, George (1852-1906) and Benno (1861-1920) became co-owners. This was the start of the Jugendstil period ('Youth Style' artistic movement) and the brothers had the vision to celebrate it. To this end they employed Carl Ludwig Luber, as their designer in 1896. The first Jugendstil products were produced in 1897. Luber left in 1906. The factory eventually closed in 1921, after Benno's death.