1970s Australian Brutalist Bark-Textured Studio Pottery Vase by Gemma DeRidder (Carmel-Gem)

A striking and sculptural original 1970s brutalist cylinder vase by acclaimed South Australian ceramicist Gemma DeRidder, signed to the base Carmel Gem.

Crafted from rich, earthy iron-bearing stoneware, this substantial vessel features deeply scored horizontal striations and applied organic clay nodules that evoke the rugged texture of raw tree bark. The unglazed, tactile exterior showcases warm tonal variations of umber, terracotta, and charcoal, making it an effortless statement piece for mid-century modern, wabi-sabi, or contemporary organic interiors.

Provenance & Artist Background
Gemma DeRidder (formerly Sister Gemma) originally established Carmel Pottery in 1959 at the Glen Osmond Carmelite Convent in Adelaide, South Australia. Following her departure from the convent in the late 1970s, she founded her independent studio, Carmel-Gem, where she gained greater creative freedom to explore bold, expressive, and heavily textured sculptural forms. Signed pieces from this transitional period are increasingly sought after by collectors of Australian mid-century studio ceramics.