Viktor Schreckengost

Viktor Schreckengost, born in Sebring Ohio near Alliance, was a legendary designer and artist. His work has encompassed designing pottery for Rocky River based Cowan Pottery, teaching at Cleveland Institute of Art, and designing such diverse products as children's toys, dinnerware, lawn furniture, and a radar recognition system used during World War II. Schreckengost passed away at his home in Florida on January 26, 2008.

Early Years:

Viktor Schreckengost was born in 1906 in Sebring Ohio, just outside of Alliance, one of six children. He dabbled in ceramics at an early age, when his father would bring home clay for the children to play with.

Cleveland Institute of Art:

Schreckengost studied at the Cleveland School of Art (later to be the Cleveland Institute of Art) and graduated in 1929. Following a brief stint in Austria as a ceramist and a jazz musician, he returned to Cleveland to teach at the school, becoming their youngest faculty member. He would continue to teach at CIA for 50 years and found their prestigious Industrial Design School, one of the first in the US.

Cowan Pottery Connection:

While he was teaching at the Cleveland School of Art, Schreckengost also designed pottery for the Rocky River-based, Cowan Pottery. His designs for Cowan are highly collectible today, and a sample of them may be seen at the Cowan Museum, located in the Rocky River library.

World War II:

The advent of World War II caused the 37-year old Schreckengost to enlist in the Navy.

He was involved in creating a radar detection system that was instrumental in the Allied victory at the "Battle of the Bulge". He also used his design talents to create a prosthetics for wounded soldiers. He received a commendation from the Navy for his war work.

A World of Modern Industrial Design:

Schreckengost is perhaps best known for his industrial designs. He designed the first mass-market dinnerware for American Limoges. He designed the first cab-over-engine truck for White Motors and he designed for Sears, GE, Salem China, and many other American and International companies.

Viktor Schreckengost's Fine Art:

Schreckengost did not limit himself to industrial art, however. His pottery is well known, especially his jazz bowls, the first of which was designed for Eleanor Roosevelt. He is also an accomplished sculptor, watercolor artist, and oil painter. His work has been shown at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Chicago Art Institute, among other prestigious art institutions.

The Schreckengost Centennial:

The occasion of Schreckengost's 100th birthday on June 26, 2006 was marked by 100 exhibits of his work, at least one in every state, for 100 days. In Cleveland, his work was shown at the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Bonfoey Gallery, Artefino Gallery, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Cain Park, among others.

Schreckengost at Rest:

Viktor Schreckengost passed away while visiting family in Florida on January 26, 2008 at the age of 101. An artist to the end, he designed his own headstone. He is buried at Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery.

^{(last updated 10-6-13)}