Alaska in Clay : The Legacy of Sascha Brastoff and the Alaska Series

Alaska Series Pottery

Tucked between the rise of American studio pottery and the golden age of mid-century design lies a collection that feels distinctly northern, profoundly expressive, and entirely one-of-a-kind.

The Alaska Series, created by Sascha Brastoff in collaboration with Matthew Adams, brings the spirit of Alaska into ceramic form. Glacier glazes, stylized wildlife, indigenous motifs, and postwar optimism all live on in the surface of the clay. It's a conversation between place, memory, and material.

Sascha Brastoff (1918 - 1993)

Sascha Brastoff was never just one kind of artist. A ceramicist, costume designer, and former USO performer, Brastoff opened his Los Angeles studio in 1947 and quickly became a force in American decorative arts. His work radiated theatricality, technical flair, and a deep love for story.

The Alaska Series Collaboration

While Brastoff brought drama and visual storytelling, the Alaska Series found its structure through Matthew Adams, a ceramic designer and glaze specialist whose technical precision grounded Brastoff’s expressive style. Their collaboration came from a shared fascination with Alaska during its transition toward statehood in the 1950s.

Together, Brastoff and Adams turned clay into snowy tundras, stylized portraits, and sweeping depictions of wildlife. Some pieces echo the vastness of Alaska’s landscape, while others feel personal, almost like souvenirs from a forgotten story. From sculptural vases to cream and sugar sets, the collection marries refined form with striking detail, carefully balancing elegance with boldness.

These weren't meant to be souvenirs. They were statements. They captured America's mid-century fixation with the idea of "the last frontier," but they did it through the eyes of two artists who treated Alaska as more than a novelty.

Colors shift from icy white to tundra green. Surfaces crackle, ripple, soften. Some designs are graphic and sharp, while others are almost dreamy. Portraits of Alaska Native figures are handled with a stylized reverence. There’s tension, yes, but also care.

At BUNKHAUS in Juneau, we’re proud to carry one of the largest collections of vintage Alaska Series pottery you’ll find. Whether you're discovering it for the first time or have been collecting it for years, each piece offers a small window into a moment when clay, art, and place came together just right.