I just got back from week long trip to Germany. My husband went there on a business trip and I got to come along. I hoped I would find some mid century German pottery pieces to bring home and I was not disappointed! The first couple of days I was there I found nothing and I was getting pretty discouraged. But on day three I finally happened across a "secondhand" store that had a few nice pots. The "antique" shops over there sell true antiques - really old, really pricey, stuffy items. The secondhand shops that I found are more like most of the antique shops here. I found it odd that they actual say "secondhand" shop on them in English but the people at the shops I was in didn't speak any English. The best pieces I found were at a thrift store (I still don't know what they call thrift stores) at a city we basically were passing through and got turned around in. I bought 7 pots at that shop, including 2 huge floor vases (that I had no idea how I was going to get home!) If I'd had more time and more room to pack things I would have bought a bunch more stuff from that place. I came home with 15 pots in all. Our luggage was packed to the gills! I carried a few pieces but most had to be packed in the checked luggage, including the 20" tall Scheurich floor vase. I was pretty stressed that they weren't going to make it but not a single pot broke! All total I spent around 75 Euros, or about $100. Here are the pieces I found:
This little vase is one of my favorites. It is a Scheurich 288-15 and is 6" tall. This one was from the thrift store and was between 1-1.5 Euros.
This is an East German vase made by Haldensleben. It is around 8.5" tall. I bought it at a secondhand shop for around 5 Euros.
I'm not sure on the maker of either of these. The small blue vase is 6" tall and has a thick glaze. It has no markings on the bottom and is a white bodied pottery. It was from the thrift store for about a Euro. The porcelain elephant is about 5" tall and came from the secondhand shop.
Scheurich 529-18 vase, 7.25" tall. Another one from the thrift store, around a Euro.
This is one of my favorite pieces. It is 12" tall. I haven't been able to identify it yet. It is marked 00. I found this at a secondhand shop and paid 10 Euros. When I found this shop we were on our way to a tour provided by the conference my husband was attending. We were already late but I had to take a quick run through the shop. My husband hurried me out and assured me I'd have time to come back the next day. But when I saw this piece in the window I knew I wasn't waiting! We caught up to the tour while they were listening to an organ concert. I'd rather shop for pottery than listen to organ music any day so I ducked out and went back to the store and bought this vase and another one. And then I went back the next day too!
I believe this vase, marked 4072, is by Haldensleben. It is 11" tall and was another piece I bought at the secondhand store.
This small square piece is by Jopeko (I think.) It is 4" tall and I can't quite make out the number on the bottom. 1.5 Euros from the thrift store.
8.5" Dumler & Breiden. There was a huge matching pitcher to this that I almost bought but I wasn't over the moon about it and wasn't sure how I'd transport it. I kind of regret leaving it but I definitely could not have fit it in the luggage.
7.5" tall Vetter. This reminds me of a lot of Hull pieces. While the glaze isn't very interesting I like the simplicity of it and it was only one Euro at the thrift store.
7.25" tall Carstens jug. This is the last piece of pottery that I bought. We were in a retail shopping area and I happened to notice a secondhand shop on the second floor of a building. It looked to be just clothing but I decided to check it out anyway. I just about turned around and walked out as soon as I walked in. The place was very small and smoky and just clothing. But there was a small back room that had a little shelf tucked in the corner that had a few random odds and ends and this jug was buried in the back. Score! I paid 3 Euros.
This is the first piece I bought and probably my least favorite. I bought it from one of the antique stores. The top glaze has a purple color to it. I haven't yet identified the maker on this one.
I haven't been able to identify this vase. It is 11" tall. The glaze on this one isn't terribly interesting but I love the colors. It goes great in my bedroom.
Large Scheurich 408-40 floor vase - over 16" tall. I hand carried this one on the plane - that bag got really heavy after lugging it through the airport! I paid 10 Euro for this at a thrift store.
I was so happy this vase didn't break on the way home! This is another Scheurich floor vase, 517-50, and is about 20" tall. I love the glazing on it. This piece was sitting outside the door at the thrift store with a bunch of ugly fake flowers in it. When I saw the price tag of 10 Euro I knew the thrift store was going to be a good stop! My husband just shook his head when he saw me carrying around the two floor vases through the store. I didn't know how I was getting them home at the time but I knew it was happening! I wish I could have spent a little more time at that shop. I feel like I probably missed something - not that I had room for anything more! I did have to leave one even larger floor vase there. It was probably 2' tall and was a steal but it did have a chip on the backside and I knew I couldn't take all three floor vases home so I stuck with the minty ones. Overall I'm really happy with what I managed to find!
I love this crystal decanter. I found it at a church sale. It is very heavy crystal. I can't decide whether to keep it or sell it and if I sell it whether to do ebay or take it to the shop. I don't know the maker and it is way more awesome in person than in the photo. But it would probably sell for more on ebay if I could figure out how to list it. Guess I should just keep it and save myself the dilemma! 
This Viking fairy lamp is just one of a half dozen owl items I found today. He's the best of the lot.
Zooline giraffe. I bought this to keep but I think I may list it on ebay instead. It still has its original tag. 
I've got to stop buying random chairs. They don't sell well and they are hard to display and I certainly don't need any more chairs in my house! But I loved this one, it's in great condition and it was cheap. How could I pass that up?!? Made by Fixtures Mfg. Corp.
And this shell chair is one of a pair. They are made by Brunswick. I love the wood arms on them.
Enormous glass owl - I've never seen one like this, and certainly never one so large. I photographed it next to my rocker to give a sense of scale. It is over 20" tall and marked "The Wise Old Owl" on the bottom. I haven't found anything like it online yet. I paid $13 for this, which was more than I had planned but it was worth it. A lady who missed out on it offered me $30 to sell it to her. I considered it (and kind of feel bad for not accepting it) but I think I can do better than that. Or maybe I'll keep it!
This rubber acupuncture man I am definitely keeping! I'm pretty sure Mollie that I was nuts for buying it but I love it. If I remember right it is around 11" tall. I bought quite a few more items for resale and some much needed lighting for my booth place. And as usual with auctions I had a big load of leftover junk that was bundled with items I wanted to take to the thrift store.
