Gio Ponti Art

“Monumental Chalice” is a stunning rare monumental ceramic chalice by the world re-known Italian potter Guido Gambone. The shape is light and delicate with a comfortable weight. Turq...

The Mid-Century Modern red vase by Dante Baldelli is an elegant example of the work his studio could produce for the consumer to enhance the décor of th...

Harding Black San Antonio (1912 - 2004) Huge Heavy Crackle Vase 1985 Height 14'' Across Widest 8" Biography Harding Black San Antonio (1912 - 2004) Harding Black was born on a farm in Nueces County between Ingleside and Aransas Pass and moved with his family to San Antonio in 1916. There he graduated from Brackenridge High School and attended San Antonio Junior College (1929-30). In 1931 Black joined an archaeological expedition to the Big Bend area sponsored by the Witte Memorial Museum. Initially a painter, he was taught by Rudolph Staffel in 1933 to make wheel- thrown pottery and in the same year began to teach children's ceramic classes at the Witte. Between 1937 and 1939, Black directed ceramic installation in a San Antonio reconstruction project sponsored by the National Youth Administration and the Works Progress Administration art program. In 1955 he retired from teaching and devoted his time to ceramics. Black became a well-known ceramist from his research, innovations, and writings in the field. Exhibitions: San Antonio Local Artists Annual Exhibition (1939-42, 1945, 1947); Texas General Exhibition (1940 award, 1942, 1948 honorable mention); National Ceramic Annual Exhibition, Syracuse Museum of Art (1947-54); River Art Group, San Antonio (1948-49); National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington D.C. (1951, 1956); Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (1952 one-man); Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University (1991 one-man); San Antonio Museum of Art (1995 retrospective); National Museum of Art, Washington, D.C. (1995); University of Texas at Dallas, Irving (1998 retrospective). Collections: Dallas Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts; San Antonio Museum of Art; Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University, Waco; National Museum of American Art, Washington D.C.; New Orleans Museum of Art; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, new York; Alfred University (New York). Harding Black resided in San Antonio Texas where he worked as a potter for over 60 years and far as anyone knows he was completely self taught. I find it amazing that anyone could ever accomplish what he did with with no formal training in either ceramics or chemistry. It was a long and prolific journey from the early hand built earthenware pottery to become recognized as a master of glazes. While I feel that his forms often could be better this is more than compensated for by the spectacular glazes he developed. Constant experimentation and his acquired knowledge of chemistry were the foundations for the wonderful glazes that adorn his pottery. The following quote is from an interview with Rudolf Staffel His copper reds are unbelievably beautiful. Harding was a master of glazes and one of the most generous human beings in the ceramic field that I've known. He had literally a room full of beautifully organized test tiles of all his glazes, and he would just throw the room open to anybody who wanted to rummage through his tiles. All the recipes were there and he shared them with anyone who was interested. It was wonderful to go and visit him. Although accurate records of all test firings were kept for reference it I have been told that it would be difficult to reproduce many of these glazes because of the kiln he built and clays he used. This may not be the case because in a recent phone conversation (4/11/2007) with Peter Pinnell he told me that some of his students had success replicating some glazes using Harding's formulas By concentrating on the bowl and vessel forms Harding remained true to the historical traditions of pottery making. The magnificent Harding Black journey began in 1932. At that time he joined the Witte Museum Archaeological Society which provided him with access to their collections of Native American pottery. Harding became fascinated by these pollychromed vessels and he began attempting to create hand built pots. He had very little or no success but a life long of working in clay had begun. It was about this time that he met up with Rudolf Staffel and it was from him that Harding learned wheel throwing and developed ideas of how to operate a studio. Harding was given access to working space at the Witte where he built a wheel and in 1933 he was given a position as ceramic instructor. In this position it was his responsibility to establish a ceramics department. The first kiln Harding built was using plans that were obtained from Newcomb College. He scrounged parts from a junkyard which were used in its construction. This project was not totally successful because of problems reaching required temperatures. As usual this did not deter Harding. He seemed to have a wonderful ability to learn from failure and move on. In the early 1940's Harding began working with formulas for copper red glazes prepared by Arthur Baggs and Edgar Littlefield. This work only added to his interest in Oriental pottery and fostered a desire to rework many old glazes. Being greatly influenced by A Potters Book published in 1940 by Bernard Leach Harding was now on his way seeking to incorporate form, function and surface treatment into a single entity where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. In the 1950's Harding left the Witte and built his own studio where he spent the rest of his life creating his wonderful art. The body of his work is a living tribute to the Harding Black lifelong love of ceramics. Along with being a researcher he was also a teacher always willing to share his knowledge with others. He spent his life producing pots and occasionally taking time off to do a bit if fishing. According to Harding Black - Harding Black 11/14/90 "I am one of the lucky ones. When I get up in the morning I can hardly wait to get to work." 1912 Born April 15 near Aransas Pass, Texas 1916 Family moved to San Antonio 1929 Graduated from Breckenridge High School 1929-30 Attended San Antonio Junior College 1931 Joined Archaeological Society of the Witte Museum, San Antonio, and participated in excavations of ancient Basket maker Indian mounds and caves in the Big Bend area of Texas 1933 Taught by Rudolf Staffel to make wheel-thrown pottery. Set tip studio in a streetcar behind Witte Museum and began teaching children’s ceramic classes 1937-39 Appointed Superintendent of Ceramic Installation for N Y A /W P A reconstruction project in San Antonio 1943 Moved from streetcar studio to new facilities in the reconstructed Ruiz House on the grounds of the Witte Museum Began firing to stoneware temperatures 1947-54 Exhibited each year in the annual National Ceramic Exhibition, Syracuse Museum of Art 1951 Exhibited at the National Museum of Art, Washington, DC 1952 Toured ceramic centers throughout the United States 1953 “Opening the Door to Copper-Reds” by Harding Black, published in January issue of Ceramics Monthly “Harding Black Profile” published in February issue of Ceramics Monthly 1954 “Iron Spotted Glazes” by Harding Black, published in February issue of Ceramics Monthly 1955 Built present studio at 8212 Broadway, San Antonio Retired from teaching at the Witte Museum 1956 Exhibited at the National Museum of Art, Washington, DC 1961 “Lava Glazes” by Harding Black, published in October issue of Ceramics Monthly 1964 “Harding Black Texas Potter” by Jean R Lange, published in November issue of Ceramics Monthly 1971 The Meyer Family Master Potters of Texas, co-authored by Harding Black and Georgeanna H Greet 1980 Harding Black’s biographical information entered into the archives of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D C 1983 Harding Black traveled throughout China 1984 Awarded Glaze Research Grant by Southwest Craft Center, San Antonio 1985 Solo exhibition at the Southwest Crafts Center 1987 Selected as Artist of the Year by the San Antonio Art League 1988 Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, establishes Harding Black Fund to aid ceramics students 1990 “Harding Black Pottery...

(Note: This work is part of our exhibition Connected by Creativity: WPA Era Works from the Collection of Leata and Edward Beatty Rowan) Glazed and incised ceramic, 8 ½ inches diamet...

Harding Black San Antonio (1912 - 2004) Huge Heavy Oxblood Vase 1984 Height 17'' At widest 5'' Biography Harding Black San Antonio (1912 - 2004) Harding Black was born on a farm in Nueces County between Ingleside and Aransas Pass and moved with his family to San Antonio in 1916. There he graduated from Brackenridge High School and attended San Antonio Junior College (1929-30). In 1931 Black joined an archaeological expedition to the Big Bend area sponsored by the Witte Memorial Museum. Initially a painter, he was taught by Rudolph Staffel in 1933 to make wheel- thrown pottery and in the same year began to teach children's ceramic classes at the Witte. Between 1937 and 1939, Black directed ceramic installation in a San Antonio reconstruction project sponsored by the National Youth Administration and the Works Progress Administration art program. In 1955 he retired from teaching and devoted his time to ceramics. Black became a well-known ceramist from his research, innovations, and writings in the field. Exhibitions: San Antonio Local Artists Annual Exhibition (1939-42, 1945, 1947); Texas General Exhibition (1940 award, 1942, 1948 honorable mention); National Ceramic Annual Exhibition, Syracuse Museum of Art (1947-54); River Art Group, San Antonio (1948-49); National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington D.C. (1951, 1956); Dallas Museum of Fine Arts (1952 one-man); Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University (1991 one-man); San Antonio Museum of Art (1995 retrospective); National Museum of Art, Washington, D.C. (1995); University of Texas at Dallas, Irving (1998 retrospective). Collections: Dallas Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts; San Antonio Museum of Art; Martin Museum of Art, Baylor University, Waco; National Museum of American Art, Washington D.C.; New Orleans Museum of Art; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, new York; Alfred University (New York). Harding Black resided in San Antonio Texas where he worked as a potter for over 60 years and far as anyone knows he was completely self taught. I find it amazing that anyone could ever accomplish what he did with with no formal training in either ceramics or chemistry. It was a long and prolific journey from the early hand built earthenware pottery to become recognized as a master of glazes. While I feel that his forms often could be better this is more than compensated for by the spectacular glazes he developed. Constant experimentation and his acquired knowledge of chemistry were the foundations for the wonderful glazes that adorn his pottery. The following quote is from an interview with Rudolf Staffel His copper reds are unbelievably beautiful. Harding was a master of glazes and one of the most generous human beings in the ceramic field that I've known. He had literally a room full of beautifully organized test tiles of all his glazes, and he would just throw the room open to anybody who wanted to rummage through his tiles. All the recipes were there and he shared them with anyone who was interested. It was wonderful to go and visit him. Although accurate records of all test firings were kept for reference it I have been told that it would be difficult to reproduce many of these glazes because of the kiln he built and clays he used. This may not be the case because in a recent phone conversation (4/11/2007) with Peter Pinnell he told me that some of his students had success replicating some glazes using Harding's formulas By concentrating on the bowl and vessel forms Harding remained true to the historical traditions of pottery making. The magnificent Harding Black journey began in 1932. At that time he joined the Witte Museum Archaeological Society which provided him with access to their collections of Native American pottery. Harding became fascinated by these pollychromed vessels and he began attempting to create hand built pots. He had very little or no success but a life long of working in clay had begun. It was about this time that he met up with Rudolf Staffel and it was from him that Harding learned wheel throwing and developed ideas of how to operate a studio. Harding was given access to working space at the Witte where he built a wheel and in 1933 he was given a position as ceramic instructor. In this position it was his responsibility to establish a ceramics department. The first kiln Harding built was using plans that were obtained from Newcomb College. He scrounged parts from a junkyard which were used in its construction. This project was not totally successful because of problems reaching required temperatures. As usual this did not deter Harding. He seemed to have a wonderful ability to learn from failure and move on. In the early 1940's Harding began working with formulas for copper red glazes prepared by Arthur Baggs and Edgar Littlefield. This work only added to his interest in Oriental pottery and fostered a desire to rework many old glazes. Being greatly influenced by A Potters Book published in 1940 by Bernard Leach Harding was now on his way seeking to incorporate form, function and surface treatment into a single entity where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. In the 1950's Harding left the Witte and built his own studio where he spent the rest of his life creating his wonderful art. The body of his work is a living tribute to the Harding Black lifelong love of ceramics. Along with being a researcher he was also a teacher always willing to share his knowledge with others. He spent his life producing pots and occasionally taking time off to do a bit if fishing. According to Harding Black - Harding Black 11/14/90 "I am one of the lucky ones. When I get up in the morning I can hardly wait to get to work." 1912 Born April 15 near Aransas Pass, Texas 1916 Family moved to San Antonio 1929 Graduated from Breckenridge High School 1929-30 Attended San Antonio Junior College 1931 Joined Archaeological Society of the Witte Museum, San Antonio, and participated in excavations of ancient Basket maker Indian mounds and caves in the Big Bend area of Texas 1933 Taught by Rudolf Staffel to make wheel-thrown pottery. Set tip studio in a streetcar behind Witte Museum and began teaching children’s ceramic classes 1937-39 Appointed Superintendent of Ceramic Installation for N Y A /W P A reconstruction project in San Antonio 1943 Moved from streetcar studio to new facilities in the reconstructed Ruiz House on the grounds of the Witte Museum Began firing to stoneware temperatures 1947-54 Exhibited each year in the annual National Ceramic Exhibition, Syracuse Museum of Art 1951 Exhibited at the National Museum of Art, Washington, DC 1952 Toured ceramic centers throughout the United States 1953 “Opening the Door to Copper-Reds” by Harding Black, published in January issue of Ceramics Monthly “Harding Black Profile” published in February issue of Ceramics Monthly 1954 “Iron Spotted Glazes” by Harding Black, published in February issue of Ceramics Monthly 1955 Built present studio at 8212 Broadway, San Antonio Retired from teaching at the Witte Museum 1956 Exhibited at the National Museum of Art, Washington, DC 1961 “Lava Glazes” by Harding Black, published in October issue of Ceramics Monthly 1964 “Harding Black Texas Potter” by Jean R Lange, published in November issue of Ceramics Monthly 1971 The Meyer Family Master Potters of Texas, co-authored by Harding Black and Georgeanna H Greet 1980 Harding Black’s biographical information entered into the archives of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D C 1983 Harding Black traveled throughout China 1984 Awarded Glaze Research Grant by Southwest Craft Center, San Antonio 1985 Solo exhibition at the Southwest Crafts Center 1987 Selected as Artist of the Year by the San Antonio Art League 1988 Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, establishes Harding Black Fund to aid ceramics students 1990 “Harding Black Pottery...

This piece is original ceramic plate by Jean Cocteau, created in 1961. This piece was embellished with black, red, green, blue, and yellow enamels. In 1957, Cocteau met Marie Madeline Jolly and Philippe Madeline and created over 300 ceramics in their workshop at Villefranche-sur-Mer. At this workshop, he began experimenting with new concepts in pottery design. All these ceramic objects, he said, should look as if they were discovered in an archaeological dig. This piece is from a series of 8 ceramic plates that illustrate the ancient Latin...

This piece is an A.R. turned round plate by Pablo Picasso made in 1957. It is made with red earthenware clay, engobe decoration, and knife engraved in black. It is from the edition ...

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Sujet colombe (A.R. 435) stamped, marked and numbered 'Edition Picasso / Madoura Plein Feu / Edition Picasso / 188/500 / Madoura' (...

PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973) Corrida Sur Fond Noir (A.R. 198) dated '25.9.53.' (upper centre); stamped 'Madoura Plein Feu / Edition Picasso' (undern...

PABLO PICASSO Spanish, 1881-1973 CHOPE VISAGE (A.R. 432) stamped and marked 'Edition Picasso / Madoura Plein Feu / Edition Picasso / 268/300 / Madoura' (...

Very Big Ceramic from "Les Argonautes" Vallauris Workshop "Les Argonautes", Vallauris: Isabelle Ferlay (1917-?) And Frédérique Bourguet (1925-1997) Isabelle Ferlay and Frédérique Bourguet founded their ceramic workshop in Vallauris in 1953, which they named "Les Argonautes", in reference to the famous Greek epic. Isabelle studied painting at the Fine Arts school of Lyon in 1940, then she attended the Fine Arts in Marseille. Finally, she finished her artistic training in Montpellier, at the Fontcarade national school, where she learned ceramics. Françoise dit Frédérique Bourguet studied at the Beaux-Arts in Montpellier until 1945 and it was in Sèvres, in Françoise Bizette's studio, that she trained in the art of ceramics. She created her first workshop in Paris in 1945, which she shared with Valentine Schlegel until 1951. The two women ceramicists then practiced modeling technique. It was in 1953 that she met Isabelle Ferlay and together, they decided to set up a workshop in Vallauris. They produce shaped pieces, sometimes molded, made of earthenware, enamelled in bright colors. In the 1970s they made stoneware cooked over a wood fire. Some ceramists frequented their workshop, notably the very talented Jacques Innocenti and François Raty.

PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973) Joueur de flûte et chèvre (A.R. 382) stamped 'Madoura Plein Feu / Empreinte Originale de Picasso' (on the reverse) white earthenware ceramic plaque with bla...