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Arequipa Pottery

October 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Frederick Rhead initially began his experience with American art pottery upon his arrival in California in 1911. As with most artists, his inspiration came from his surroundings and it’s been said those earlier Arequipa Pottery pieces with their lovely outdoor elements such as various fruits and trees were inspired by what he saw growing along the west coast. Indeed, the Multicolor Squeezebag vase, circa 1912, offers a matte background that’s so deeply purple that it almost looks black. While the matte appearance certainly added the refined look of this vase, it’s the berries and oversized leaves along the vase opening that adds contrast and texture.

Another vase, shaped as a gourd vessel, includes a glossier finish, though this time, it looks as though sunflowers were the inspiration. The “squeezebag” decoration, which is symbolic of the Arequipa look, works well with the deep green, gold and navy blue color choices. It measures around 7 inches in height, making it one of the larger pieces you’ll find in the pottery line.

One of the more interesting bits of trivia about Frederick Rhead includes his wife, Agnes. The couple had gone to work at the Arequipa Sanatorium for Dr. Philip K. Brown, who was looking for someone to teach the patients various artistic techniques in an effort to raise their spirits.  The plan worked as many of these young women were drawn to the possibilities this artistic avenue provided. Rhead and his wife were there for just one year, but their influence lived on with these patients.

This award wining line was the darling of the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition. It took both the gold and bronze medals, which for many companies would mean great exposure and increased interest – but for Arequipa, it meant the end of the new Arequipa Pottery pieces as it closed its doors that same year. What we’re left with is a valuable line of American art pottery that is considered quite valuable by any standards.

 

 

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Mid-Century Trends in Art Pottery

September 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Those colorful and funky designs found in what’s referred to as “mid century” art pottery is often what many of us refer to as vintage; it’s definitely trendy, but finding a single adjective or definition is where the challenge begins.

Vintage. Mod. “1960s style”. Art Nouveau. Art Deco.– these are all used to describe the colorful movement in art pottery and general home décor during the 1950s and into the 1960s. But what defines this very specific line of American art pottery? And how do you differentiate between the real thing and those “dime a dozen” pieces that were so common during this time period? Here’s a bit of info that can help you when you’re ready to explore what this particular line offers.

There are no shortage of names, styles or even materials that are identified with this time period. A personal favorite is Blisscraft of Hollywood. That, of course, isn’t ceramic pottery, but it is indicative of the trends of the day – and you can’t mention these trends without there being an acknowledgment of the parts that define the sum.

Roseville Pottery, which comes as a surprise to many, is often included in that sum. Many of the Roseville vases that were made in the early 1900s are easily found in today’s literature on mid-century pottery. It makes sense. Roseville Pottery is so versatile that it works with, well, anything – from ultra contemporary design efforts to those art nouveau pieces to the designs that came from the same time period the pottery was made. Think about, say, the Roseville Sunflower line. It’s colorful, timeless and frankly, works with any art déco piece you can imagine. The point is to not discount this particular line – it serves its purpose in every era.

Finally, another important element in this distinctive art pottery is the color and specifically, the color combinations. Think vibrant oranges, rich greens, vivid pinks and reds – they all come together on a whim, which is the only way when you’re combining artistic effort and color.

With more of us turning once again to mid-century art pottery and everything that it implies, you can expect to see a surge in prices, too. Still, it’s a great way to add to a collection and frankly, it’s ideal for those who’ve just discovered American art pottery and are looking for a starting place.

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Howard Pierce Pottery

November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Many of our clients don’t realize we have an entire section of other American art pottery.  On this page, we feature

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many pottery makers, including Howard Pierce Pottery.  While many of us focus our time and attention (not to mention our money) on some of the more mainstream art pottery companies, there are some gems out there that might not always get the attention they deserve.

Howard Pierce founded his southern California studio in the 1940s after being artistically trained at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Illinois.  Initially, he’d set up shop in Claremont; however, he eventually settled in Joshua Tree in 1968 – both in California, and in both locations, he enjoyed a robust business that served him well.  Most people equate Howard Pierce Pottery with the whimsical figurines such as cats and chickens that were his trademark for many years.  He appreciated the dimension a set of uneven heights allowed and as a result, he usually created pairs.  The subtle glazes and contrasting shades will draw you in to see the detailing up close and personal.  One example of just how intricate the detailing is can be found on the Howard Pierce “Two Chickadees”.  There are significant shading efforts, especially on the raised ceramic and they are perfectly placed as only a true artist can accomplish.

Murtle the Turtle - Joshua Tree, CA (Photo courtesy of Potteries of CA)

Most Howard Pierce pottery is marked with his name; however, those smaller pieces are almost never marked in any kind of way.  Unlike some of the other American art pottery companies, Pierce initially focused on distributing his wares to local florists, which he would have been content with maintaining.  During the mid-1950s, he had received so much positive feedback from the florists and their customers, he decided to take his business to the national level.  From there, his porcelain figurines were soon found on store shelves around the country.

After Pierce had relocated his business to Joshua Tree in 1968, he created several large statues for installation in parks and other public areas.  Many measured twelve feet or more in height and the vast majority remain in place today, where they are still enjoyed

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by those who live within the communities they’re housed.

Howard Pierce continued to create his art pottery until his death in 1994.

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Ephraim Faience Pottery

February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment

Anigif  As all Ephraim Faience Pottery fans know, this art pottery company still releases its hand thrown and decorated vases and other pottery in limited edition.  The photographs you see here just reinforce our appreciation of this modern art pottery line, each one with a striking background, courtesy of fellow Ephraim collectors Steve and Rose.  Steve has masterfully managed to incorporate elements of nature and used it to highlight the intricacies Ephraim Faience art pottery is so well known for.  Notice the Ephraim Trillium vase – this is one that remains as popular now as it was when it was released. The greens play off the whites in the flower for a soft glow that's incredibly difficult to replicate.  

We also have several current as well as early experimental examples of Ephraim Faience Pottery available on our New Products page, so if you're looking to add to your own collection, be sure to check these out.  Of course, you can always view Just Art Pottery's Ephraim Faience Pottery page for even more hard to find pieces from this investment quality contemporary art pottery.. 

Have your own photos that capture the elegance and beauty of Ephraim Faience Pottery?  Drop us a line, we'd love to hear your stories and see your images.  Also, if you haven't signed up for Just Art Pottery's newsletter, now's a great time to do so.

Donna McGill – Just Art Pottery

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Filed Under: Ephraim Faience Pottery

Arequipa Pottery

December 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Logo-JustArtPottery Between the years 1911-1918, Arequipa Pottery existed first as a way to provide therapy to patients at a California sanitarium and then as a financial endeavor that might had been successful were it not for World War I.  Arequipa, meaning "the place of peace" was the brainchild of Dr. Philip King Brown.  After having founded the Arequipa Tuberculosis Sanatorium, it was his belief art would play a significant role in one's recovery efforts.  Soon, he attempted to make it a profitable company, if for no other reason than to offset the costs associated with providing supplies to the patients.  After having brought on board a few different people to assist in the management efforts, Dr. Brown brought in F.H. Wilde.  Wilde was experienced in the details of starting an art pottery and knew how it make it financially successful.  He promptly took to his new position and did quite well until the war made it unfeasible to continue. 

Still, the patients, who were most likely pre-teen and teen girls, were allowed to display their artistic wares at the Panama Pacific Exposition in 1915.  They were allowed to keep a small percentage of their pieces that sold as well as small salary.  It was Dr. Brown's belief this type of therapy was as important as proper nutrition and the medications used to heal the girls' physical ailments.  As mentioned above, Arequipa Pottery was not able to turn a profit and eventually, it came to rely solely on donations until they too began to decrease.  1918 marked the final year of the art pottery company.  Many of the pieces these young patients were responsible for creating are on display at the Smithsonian Institution.  The pieces that are in circulation are considered quite valuable and each is one of a kind since the patients either created at will or would complete a piece and promptly begin another project.

On a final note, it wasn't until 2001 another showing that rivaled the size of the 1915 Panama Pacific Expo displayed Arequipa Pottery.  While many pieces remain at the Smithsonian Institute, there are a significant number that can be found in Oakland's Museum of California.

Donna McGill - Just Art Pottery

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Filed Under: Contemporary Art Pottery

Ephraim Faience Pottery Photographs

October 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Anigif We're so pleased our friends and fellow Ephraim Faience Pottery collectors, Steve and Rose, are allowing us to share with our readers these incredible photographs.  Notice the detail and depths of the colors.  The nuances are nothing short of exceptional and the way the colors become a part of the pottery is purely inspirational.  Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Ephraim Faience Pottery

The Top 10 Pottery Searches for August, 2009

September 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Newcomb_College

Below are the top ten most searched pottery collections for August, 2009.  The searches reveal consistency with few changes.  Clearly, the trends for Roseville are still strong, as it dominates four of the ten spots.

Roseville Pottery- Patterns A-E – Some of the patterns in this group include the incredibly sought-after Roseville Apple Blossom, the delicate Roseville Azurean and the ambitious designs in Roseville Capri.

Roseville Pottery – Patterns F-L – This group includes the Roseville Juvenile and the Roseville Laurel.

Weller Pottery – Beautiful and deep coloring with lean lines define Weller Pottery.  A perfect example that defines the Weller Pottery themes is the Camelot Vase.

Roseville Pottery – Patterns S-Z – Look for the Roseville Savona with its rich gold coloring and the vivid reds that define the Roseville Silhouette.

Roseville Pottery – Patterns M-R – This group has the unique shaped Roseville Pottery Magnolia Brown Cider Pitcher.

Rookwood Pottery – If you've not seen the Rookwood Faience Pottery Pears on a Branch Tile, now's the time.  This exquisite tile measures 10" in height and is 6 ¾" wide. 

Van Briggle Pottery – Known for its many markings, this collection has something for everyone.

McCoy Pottery – Look for any of the McCoy Pottery Vases.  Each is beautiful in its own right.

Newcomb Pottery – The blues and greens set this collection apart.

Fulper Pottery – Elegant and refined are commonly used to describe Fulper Pottery.

Despite the foothold Roseville Pottery maintains, Grueby's arts and crafts style, and the contemporary styles of Ephraim and Door Pottery just missed the Top 10.

Donna McGill

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Filed Under: Contemporary Art Pottery, Ephraim Faience Pottery, Fulper Pottery, Grueby Pottery, McCoy Pottery, Newcomb College Pottery, Rookwood Pottery, Roseville Pottery, Van Briggle Pottery

Record Sale Price for Ephraim Pottery Tile

July 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A scarce Ephraim Faience Pottery River Falls tile sold recently sold on eBay for what is believed to be a record price of $510. 

Ephraim Pottery discontinued making tiles in 2004.  Records show approximately 30 different tiles were produced although I suspect there are other experimental or non-standard product development tiles out there.

The River Falls tile was discontinued in 2004 after a production run of 234 pieces.  The tile originally retailed for $58.  It is a very beautiful and highly decorative piece and not a bad return on your investment.   

Ephraim tile

Shop for Ephraim Pottery

Greg Myroth – Just Art Pottery
7/24/2009

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Filed Under: Ephraim Faience Pottery

More Modern Day Art Pottery Masters

November 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
There are so many accomplished potters on the scene today that it's sometimes hard to choose who to feature.  This time though, the decision was easy.  Jeremy Briddell and Adam Silverman are two artists whose works are currently on display alongside the classic masterpieces of Gertrud and Otto Natzler at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon.  The exhibit organizers chose these two men because their pottery demonstrates the influence that the Natzlers' work has on ceramics today. 
Jeremy Briddell began as a studio assistant for Missouri ceramicists John Balestreri, Jun Kaneko and Ken Ferguson.  He earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in ceramics.  His work is considered to be a modern expression of mid-century modernism and resides in some very prestigious collections, both public and private. 
 
Briddell currently works from his home in Tempe, Arizona with his wife Cyndi Coon, who is a multi-media artist.  Together, they showcase their creations on a website called Laboratory 5.
 
Adam Silverman has been making pots pots for friends and family for over 25 years, but he didn't decide to turn pottery into a career until after he worked as an architect and started a successful clothing business.  After the tragedy of 9/11, Silverman's priorities changed, and he decided to leave the profit-driven business world.  He has been a professional potter since 2002 under the name Atwater Pottery. 
 
Adam Silverman combines contemporary designs with non-traditional glazes to create modern day masterpieces. His work resembles classic art pottery, but has its own distinct personality.  He has been featured in several US and international publications, including the May 2007 issue of the New York Times and the September 2008 issues of the UK's Elle Decoration.
 
Silverman's most recent accomplishment is becoming the Studio Director of the new Heath Ceramics retail studio facility in Los Angeles.  September 2008 marked the 60th anniversary of this mid-century era pottery, and they celebrated by partnering with Adam Silverman to open a second retail location.  Silverman's pottery can be purchased from several galleries, including Heath Ceramics.

Just Art Pottery

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Filed Under: Contemporary Art Pottery

Natzler Pottery Currently on Display

October 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
If you're going to be in Portland sometime between now and January 25, 2009 you're in for a treat.  The DSC_4825 Museum of Contemporary Craft is hosting an exhibit entitled The Ceramics of Gertrud and Otto Natzler.  The nearly 100 pottery pieces on display are from several private collections and West Coast museums.  Altogether, the items represent a range of forms that the Natzlers created over the course of many years.
 
The magical combination of Gertrud's forms and Otto's glazes earned the couple attention and accolades from almost the very beginning of their partnership.  Just four years after they began exhibiting their pottery, the Natzlers won a silver medal at the 1937 World Exposition in Paris.  When German occupation forced them to flee Austria, they quickly opened for business in Southern California. 

The Ceramics of Gertrud and Otto Natzler exhibit includes the viewing of two documentaries, The Ceramic Art of the Natzlers, Artists of the World Series (1966) and Earth, Fire, Water and Wind: The Ceramics of Otto Natzler (1992).  This is a rare opportunity to see the Natzlers at work in their studio and hear them tell about their ideas, processes, and products in their own words.

The museum has also posted an audio podcast of a lecture by Otto Natzler on their website MuseumofContemporaryCraft.org.  The lecture was originally delivered at this same museum in 1975 along with a retrospective entitled Natzler Ceramics.

In order to demonstrate the influence that the Natzlers' work has on ceramics today, there are are selected vessels on display by two contemporary artists, Jeremy Briddell and Adam Silverman.  The entire exhibit is open each week Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., with a late closing of 8:00 P.M. on Thursdays.  For more information, contact the Museum of Contemporary Craft at 503.223.2654 or online.  There is a detailed, illustrated brochure about the Natzlers and the exhibit at  http://www.museumofcontemporarycraft.org/pdf/2008_08_Natzlers.pdf.

Just Art Pottery

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Filed Under: Contemporary Art Pottery
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