David Cressey

American, 1916-2010

David Cressey, a multi-disciplinary artist who had a six-decade career, created pottery and ceramics that revolutionized indoor/outdoor planters with their architectural style. Implementing artistic functionality into his pieces, Cressey designed in modern and mid-century modern styles. He created many planters, vases and table lamps, which remain highly desirable to collectors.

Cressey was the first artist in residence at Architectural Pottery in Los Angeles in 1961, helping to transform its urban and residential work. This was highly influential in the architecture and design worlds as the company mass-produced and sold sculptural, functional pieces.

Cressey also opened a design studio in Venice Beach, California, collaborating with Group Artec and Earthgender Ceramics. When Architectural Pottery closed in the mid-1980s due to a fire, Cressey continued to produce art, this time in the medium of mixed media on wood.

Cressey artwork evokes a similar physical and sensory experience as his vessels, lanterns and folk art ceramics. Evocatively Californian, his paintings evolved from his clay-based practice with a masterful use of color, saturation and texture. His fine art training included studying at the University of Southern California under Vivika Heino and at the University of California, Los Angeles, with Laura Andreson.

In 2006, he received the California Design Award. Museums that have exhibited his work include the Pasadena Art Museum in 1967, the Everson Museum of Art in 1961, the Oakland Museum of California in 1961 and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2011.

On 1stDibs, find a rare collection of David Cressey building and garden elements, decorative objects, lighting and more.

Average Sold Price

$2,338

Styles

Materials

Related Creators

Architectural Pottery

David Cressey Glazed Drip Texture Ceramic Table Lamp for Architectural Pottery

$2,250

H 35 in W 10 in D 10 in

David Cressey Glazed Drip Texture Ceramic Table Lamp for Architectural Pottery

By David Cressey, Architectural Pottery

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Dimensions 35in H x 10in W x 10in D Lamp Shade: 12in H x 18in W ________________________________________ Transforming a piece of Mid-Century Modern furniture is like bringing histo...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Cressey

Materials

Brass

Mid Century David Cressey Textured Glaze Ceramic Stoneware Pottery Table Lamp

$2,200

H 32 in W 10 in D 10 in

Mid Century David Cressey Textured Glaze Ceramic Stoneware Pottery Table Lamp

By David Cressey, Architectural Pottery

Located in Troy, MI

Large scale textured ceramic lamp by David Cressey for Architectural Pottery circa 1970s Dark olive glazed stoneware with applied abstract textured design Mounted to wood base 10 i...

Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Cressey

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware

Pair of Vintage Mid Century Ceramic Table Lamps by David Cressey

$4,799 / set

H 25 in Dm 10.25 in

Pair of Vintage Mid Century Ceramic Table Lamps by David Cressey

By David Cressey

Located in Oxnard, CA

Here is a fantastic pair of large stoneware table lamps by David Cressey, California's favorite mid century ceramic artist. The lamp forms are a tall gourd shape with a speckled yel...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern David Cressey

Materials

Brass

Monumental David Cressey Turquoise Studio Pottery Lamp Mid-Century Modern

$4,200

H 38 in W 18 in D 14 in

Monumental David Cressey Turquoise Studio Pottery Lamp Mid-Century Modern

By David Cressey

Located in Las Vegas, NV

Enormous triple drip glaze stoneware art pottery lamp by artist David Cressey. Gorgeous turquoise blue drip glazed on each side. Prestine original condition. No damage of any kind. C...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern David Cressey

Materials

Stoneware

David Cressey & Robert Maxwell “Sunburst” Ochre Planter for Earthgender

$5,500

H 15.5 in Dm 15 in

David Cressey & Robert Maxwell “Sunburst” Ochre Planter for Earthgender

By David Cressey, Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, Robert Maxwell

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Stoneware planter from Earthgender, a collaboration between David Cressey and Robert Maxwell in the early 1970s. This 15” diameter example is incised in the “Sunburst” design, a patt...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern David Cressey

Materials

Stoneware

David Cressey “Expressive” Planter for Architectural Pottery, Pro/Artisan Series

$4,500

H 19 in Dm 21 in

David Cressey “Expressive” Planter for Architectural Pottery, Pro/Artisan Series

By David Cressey, Architectural Pottery

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A beautifully executed example from David Cressey’s Pro/Artisan Series for Architectural Pottery, this large cylindrical planter features the rare and visually dynamic “Expressive” m...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern David Cressey

Materials

Ceramic

Californian Pro Artisan Mustard Planter by David Cressey & Raul Coronel

$2,895

H 24 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in

Californian Pro Artisan Mustard Planter by David Cressey & Raul Coronel

By Architectural Pottery, Raul Coronel, David Cressey

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Materials: Mustard Glaze Stoneware

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Cressey

Materials

Stoneware

David Cressey Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp in Violet Glazed Ceramic, 1960s

$3,500

H 32 in Dm 13.5 in

David Cressey Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp in Violet Glazed Ceramic, 1960s

By David Cressey

Located in New York, NY

David Cressey Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp in Violet Glazed Ceramic, 1960s. Large California Modern hand-thrown glazed pottery lamp mounted on a 1.5 inch walnut base. The ceramic la...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Cressey

Materials

Brass

Browse all Furniture from David Cressey

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David Cressey Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Material

Creation Year

2026	$2,750	Table Lamps, More Lighting	Ceramic	circa 1970
2026	$6,375	More Lighting, Table Lamps	Ceramic, Stoneware, Walnut, Linen	1960s
2026	$2,499	Planters and Jardinieres	Stoneware	Unknown
2026	$2,600	Planters and Jardinieres	Stoneware	1960
2026	$5,400	Planters and Jardinieres	Ceramic, Stoneware	circa 1970
2026	$1,530	Table Lamps	Ceramic, Wood, Stoneware	circa 1970s
2026	$2,000	Vases	Pottery	1960s
2025	$5,850	Planters and Jardinieres	Pottery, Stoneware	1970s
2025	$600	Table Lamps	Ceramic	circa 1970
2025	$3,600	Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières, Planters and Jardinieres	Stoneware	Mid-20th Century
2025	$1,350	Table Lamps	Ceramic	1960's
2025	$400	Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières	Pottery	1960
2025	$120	Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche	Ceramic, Art Glass	Circa 1970
2025	$120	Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche	Ceramic, Art Glass	Circa 1970
2025	$120	Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche	Ceramic, Art Glass	circa 1970
2025	$2,100	Table Lamps	Ceramic	circa 1960s

$2,338

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$120-$6,375

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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David Cressey furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

David Cressey furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of ceramic and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of David Cressey furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by David Cressey were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Architectural Pottery, Brown Jordan, and Robert Maxwell. Prices for David Cressey furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $250 and can go as high as $12,825, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,500.

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