For decades, the Austrian artists Gertrud and Otto Natzler created their celebrated ceramics at their home in the Hollywood Hills. The 1930s property in the upper reaches of Nichols Canyon was where the couple produced thousands of stunning pieces, some of which are held in the collections of some of the world’s greatest museums. They also just lived their day-to-day lives there, hosting friends and family and performing their regular domestic duties. 

Now, for the first time in 80 years, the Natzler Residence is on the market, listed for $2.5 million with Barry Gray at Compass, and the property retains some spectacular Natzler touches, such as Otto’s rainbow of hand-glazed tiles in the kitchen and the inset tiles on the garden stairs. Also still in situ are Otto’s office and studio, plus the studio and darkroom built for his second wife, Gail. Indeed, it’s a home with a rich artistic legacy literally preserved between the walls.

The main house dates to 1937, while a two-story addition was built in 1988. Along with the home’s colorful kitchen, there’s a cozy, fireplace-warmed living room and a wood-paneled dining room. There are just two bedrooms (and 2.5 bathrooms), with the second bedroom used by Otto as his personal office.

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The addition, meanwhile, was designed as a chalet-inspired space by the architect Alfred T. Wilkes. Vaulted ceilings top the primary suite, where natural light floods the space and walls of glass frame the canyon views in the distance. After Gertrud died in 1971, Otto married Gail, a photographer, and part of the addition became her studio and darkroom. Meanwhile, Otto and Gertrud’s studio, a detached space above the garage, retains its original layout with a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, plus the workspace where the couple created their ceramics.

The Natzlers were known for bringing together the who’s who of Los Angeles’s creative set. They hosted chamber-music gatherings and salons at the home, attended by the likes of violinist Jascha Heifetz, actor Henry Fonda, photographer Julius Shulman, and fashion designer Rudi Gernreich. Walking through the home, with its arched doorways and skylit rooms, you can envision the sorts of parties that took place here. And with so much of the couple’s handiwork intact, it remains a living archive of their lives and work.

Click here to see all the photos of the Hollywood Hills home.