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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.

1970s Robert Maxwell & David Cressey 'Teardrop Sunburst' Pot for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell, David Cressey
Located in Glendale, CA
1970s Robert Maxwell & David Cressey 'Teardrop Sunburst' Pot for Earthgender Studio executed in hand etched, glazed and textured earthenware. A very clean example from the short-liv...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Cressey

Materials

Earthenware

Massive Model 5015 "Rectangle" Pro/Artisan Planter by David Cressey for AP
By David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Massive Model 5015 "Rectangle" Planter by David Cressey for Architectural Pottery Pro/Artisan Collection, c. 1960's, USA Unglazed Reduction-Fired Stoneware H 30" x W 40" x D 34.5" ...
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1960s American Vintage David Cressey

Materials

Stoneware

Large Architectural Pottery Stoneware Vase David Cressey
By David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
California design. Rare. Limited. Survivor. This form was usually made from a mold into lamps with a textured pattern, drilled hole for plug, wood base and hardware. This one has n...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern David Cressey

Materials

Stoneware

David Cressey & Robert Maxwell Extra Large “Sunburst” Planter for Earthgender
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, Robert Maxwell, David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unglazed stoneware planter from Earthgender, David Cressey and Robert Maxwell’s early 1970s project. This 23” diameter example is incised in the “Sunburst” design, a pattern of lines...
Category

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

Materials

Stoneware

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 for Earthgender “Sunburst” Planter
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, David Cressey, Robert Maxwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand thrown stoneware planter from Earthgender, David Cressey and Robert Maxwell’s early 1970s project. This 13” diameter example is incised in the “Sunburst” design a pattern of lin...
Category

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

Materials

Stoneware

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

Stoneware 'Leaf' Planter David Cressey
By David Cressey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great California design. Made with Cressey's own natural "formula clay", low fired stoneware with hand applied leaf design pattern. No two are exactly alike. No cracks. One or two ch...
Category

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

Materials

Ceramic

Stoneware 'Leaf' Planter  David Cressey
Stoneware 'Leaf' Planter  David Cressey
$3,000
H 14.5 in W 17.5 in D 17.5 in
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David Cressey Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$3,360Table LampsStoneware1965
2025$750Decorative BowlsStoneware1960's 70's
2025$3,150Table LampsCeramic1960s
2025$1,500Planters, Cachepots and JardinièresStoneware1960's
2025$990Planters and JardinieresCeramic, Stoneware1970's
2025$6,715Planters and Jardinieres, CeramicsStonewarecirca 1970s
2025$2,500Planters and JardinieresStoneware1960's 70's
2025$1,000Planters and JardinieresCeramic, Stoneware1960's
2025$600Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières, Planters and JardinieresCeramic1970s
2025$3,500Table LampsCeramic, Stoneware1970's
2025$335Decorative BowlsStoneware1970s
2024$3,300More Lighting, Table LampsCeramiccirca 1970
2024$1,760More Lighting, Table LampsCeramic, Pottery1950-1960s
2024$1,260Table LampsPottery1965
$2,194
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$335-$6,715
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to David Cressey

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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