Signed with
L. Halpern
LH AMSTERDAM 
LH
or with paper labels

Early years

Lea Henie Halpern was born on September 8, 1901 in Mikuliczyn (Austria until 1914; Poland until 1945; now Ukraine). Some sources say “born in Vienna”.
She had 2 brothers and one sister. Her sister moved to Israel (Jerusalem), one brother was born in Amsterdam, the other in Mikuliczyn.
Lea was the oldest child. The mother died rather young and the father had to take care of the family. She lived with her family in Berlin until 1917. Then they moved to Amsterdam where she lived until 1940.

Education

1922                 Quellinus school (Bert Nienhuis)

1923-24           Studien Atelier für Malerei & Plastik, Berlin

1924-25            Reiman Schule, Berlin (where she worked as an
                        instructor at Plunnecke, Private Art School)

1925-26            Kunstgewerbeschule des Oesterreichen Museums für Kunst und Industrie, Vienna (Prof. Michael Powolny), possibly briefly after Lucie Rie was at this institution.
Lea had a studio in Vienna 1925

1926                 Diploma

1926                 Special work in numerous private studios & small
                        manufactures in Vienna

1926-30           Gouda (Rijksschool voor Klei & Aardewerkindustrie)
                        where she finished with 3 Diplomas.