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What is Beatrice Wood famous for?
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Beatrice Wood is famous for her work as an artist. A ceramicist, she produced striking pieces with lustrous glazes that collectors now call "lusterware." Due to her involvement with the Dada movement alongside Marcel Duchamp and other artists, she is sometimes referred to as "Mama Dada." Shop a selection of Beatrice Wood pottery on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertJanuary 10, 2025
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Shop for Beatrice Wood Furniture on 1stDibs
Beatrice Wood Signed Iridescent Luster Glaze California Studio Pottery Face Vase
By Beatrice Wood
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful gem of a piece by famed American/California ceramicist Beatrice Wood featuring her highly coveted iridescent luster glaze and highly desi...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Beatrice Wood Signed Midcentury California Studio Pottery Luster Glaze Vase
By Beatrice Wood
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful gem of a piece by famed American/California ceramicist Beatrice Wood featuring her highly coveted, gorgeously radiant turquoise luster glaze. A beautiful design with a delicate long neck rising from a circular base. Classic and timeless.
Signed by Beatrice in her customary "Beato" on the underside of the base (with noted inventory number).
Would be an amazing addition to any Mid-Century Modern pottery collection or personal collectors of her work or a fabulous stand-alone accent piece in about any setting. One of the best Beatrice Wood's luster glaze vases we have come across in quite a while.
Know famously in the art world as "The Mama of Dada", Wood lived a long (1893-1998) and very fruitful, creative life and is considered by many experts and collectors alike to have been a centerpiece in the modern ceramic art movement of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. At one point in her career, Wood studied with master potters Otto and Gertrud Natzler and later become famed in her own right for her distinct luster-glazing techniques. In 1994, the Smithsonian Institution named Wood an "Esteemed American Artist".
Her other awards include:
1994 Governor’s Awards for the Arts (California)
1993 Recognition as A Role Model by Women in Film
1992 Gold Medal for Highest Achievement in Craftsmanship, American Craft Council
1988 Distinguished Service Award, Arizona State University
1987 Fellow of American Craft Council Women’s Art Caucus, National Award (NCECA Award)
1986 Women’s Building Award
1984 Living Treasure of California
1983 Symposium Award of the Institute for Ceramic History
1961 Goodwill Ambassador from USA...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Beatrice Wood Signed Monumental Midcentury Queen Elizabeth Pottery Charger
By Beatrice Wood
Located in Studio City, CA
An extremely rare and wonderfully hand-painted monumentally large charger featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth - a quite unique and bold work by famed American/ California studio ...
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Beatrice Wood Signed Mid-Century California Pottery Dark Lava Luster Glaze Vase
By Beatrice Wood
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully designed work by famed American California Studio master ceramist Beatrice Wood featuring a gorgeous, dark, iridescent metallic volcanic lava crater luster (lustre) gla...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware, Pottery
Beatrice Wood Signed Mid-Century California Pottery Luster Crater Glaze Vase
By Beatrice Wood
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully designed work by famed American California Studio master ceramist Beatrice Wood featuring a gorgeous, sumptuous, iridescent luster (lustre) volcanic lava crater glaze (...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware, Pottery
Beatrice Wood Signed Volcanic Ash Blue Iridescent Luster Studio Pottery Bowl
By Beatrice Wood
Located in Studio City, CA
Famed California Mid-Century Modern artist Beatrice wood signed bowl featuring her highly coveted deep ash blue iridescent lustre/luster glaze. In certain light, the glaze radiates as a purple hue in some areas. The glaze runs down the sides and gathers in areas underneath.
This piece comes with an interesting history/ provenance. This piece came from Beatrice's personal collection. She was using it as a coin and key holder in her Ojai house which accounts for the cracks in the glaze. It was gifted to Maria Anderson who assisted Beatrice around her home. We considered having the work restored but because of its history feel that it offers more value to the next owner as shown. This was apparently the condition it was given in as Wood was famous for noting about her work that objects that are not quite perfect are simply that...perfect because of their imperfections. A very Wabi-Sabi view. Flawed Beauty.
We love the piece and the history.
Signed with her customary "Beato" on the underside.
Would be an amazing addition to any collection of her work or a fabulous, eye-catching Stand-alone piece in any setting, Mid-Century Modern or otherwise.
Know famously in the art world as "The Mama of Dada...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware


