Polia Pillin, née Sunockin, was born on September 1, 1909, in Częstochowa. She came to Chicago from Poland in 1924 to work an industrial job that allowed her to support her family overseas. She began to take art classes at the Jewish People's art institute in the evenings and dreamed of supporting herself as an artist. In 1938, she married William Pillin, who had fled persecution in Ukraine with his family and settled in Chicago and they lived in New Mexico. After the birth of their first child, they returned to Chicago, where she had her first show of paintings at the Chicago Art Institute. She became fascinated with clay and in 1946 she took a six-week course in pottery which was her only formal training. She set up a studio in her kitchen, complete with a wheel and electric kiln and soon her innovative works were in high demand. By the 1960s, the Pillins, now collaborating on throwing pots and developing glazes, were selling pottery faster than they could produce it. Polia Pillin's pieces are instantly recognizable. Her technique involves painting on pieces with colored clays while they were still wet and then double-firing using a transparent glaze which produced a high gloss finish. Her pieces, both paintings and pots, feature whimsical figures of people and animals. Her style was informed both by her Eastern European heritage and by her surroundings in New Mexico. She has won numerous awards from Los Angeles County Art Institute in 1949, Syracuse Museum of Fine Art in 1950 and California State Fair in 1951.
Polia Pillin California Studio Pottery Seated Girl with Bird Lidded Trinket Box
By Polia Pillin
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Large ceramic lidded trinket box in shades of blue with decoration of a seated woman and bird. Created by Polia Pillin of Los Angeles, California,...
Ceramic
$128Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.5 in Dm 3.5 in
Round Primitive Ceramic Decorative Trinket Studio Pottery Dish with Lid in Brown
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A round studio pottery trinket dish in brown. This piece will be perfect for a nightstand, coffee table, or bar. It is round and glazed in a deep brown. The lid on the top features a...
Ceramic, Clay
MCM Lidded Green Marble Trinket Box with Brass Accents
Located in San Diego, CA
MCM lidded green marble trinket box with brass accents, circa 1970s. The box has well cut lines and features brass feet and a cool brass lizard hand...
Marble, Brass
Hollywood Regency Egyptian Green Malachite Trinket Box with Lid
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A beautiful polished green malachite decorative box with a lid. Brought from a trip to Egypt in the 1970s, this piece will be fabulous on a nightstand or coffee table. Dimensions...
Malachite
$440Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.25 in W 4 in D 4 in
1950's Polia Pillin California Studio Art Pottery Ceramic Vase w/Woman & Horse
By Polia Pillin
Located in San Diego, CA
Wonderful Polia Pillin California art pottery vase dating from the 1950's. Features two hand painted images of a woman holding a bird and then a horse. Signed on the bottom. In very...
Ceramic, Pottery
Lidded Burl Wood Trinket Box by Kreiss
By Kreiss
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice lidded burl wood trinket box by Kreiss, circa 1980s. The box has a removable lid and is in very good vintage condition; it measures 7"W ...
Burl
Italian Solid Malachite Lidded Trinket Box
Located in Pearland, TX
A stylish Italian natural malachite rectangular lidded box with lovely patterns in brilliant emerald green. Fine gemstone quality and craftsmanship. Perfect as a jewelry or trinket b...
Stone, Malachite
Godinger Silver Plate Scalloped Lidded Trinket Box
By Godinger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lovely etched and scalloped silver plate trinket box - with a removable lid and lined in red velvet. The lid has an acorn finial. A compli...
Silver Plate
Large Round Emerald Green Alabaster Trinket Box with Hinged Lid, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A lovely hand carved round Italian alabaster trinket box in deep emerald green on the inside, and very light green on the exterior. Large...
Alabaster, Metal
Polia Pillin Mid-Century Modern Footed Studio Bowl
By Polia Pillin
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Pillin is known for her whimsical designs and a re-occurring motifs of women, birds, horses and flowers. Decorated ceramic footed bowl by Polia Pillin (1909-1992). Signed on the bottom: Pillin. Perfect condition, no chips, cracks or repairs. Measures: 2.75" H x 7.38" D. Polia Pillin was a painter and ceramist. Born in Poland, 1909, she immigrated to Chicago in 1924. She studied there at the AIC and Jewish Peoples...
Ceramic
Chinese Leather & Brass Lidded Lacquered Trinket Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A wonderful Chinese leather and brass lidded lacquered trinket box, circa 1970s. The handcrafted box measures 6.25"W x 3.75"D x 4"H and has a great look with tapered brass trim. It...
Brass
Polia Pillin Bulbous Vase in a Vibrant Red
By Polia Pillin
Located in Oakland, CA
Bulbous vase by Polia Pillin of Southern California in a vibrant red glaze an unusual piece as its absent of her ornate imagery, she worked with her husband William out of their home...
Ceramic
Polia Pillin rare footed bowl with lid ceramic/ pottery , signed .
By Polia Pillin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and rare footed , lidded bowl decorated with horses by the very well known Artis, Polia Pillin .signed in bottom, Pillin .
Pottery