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 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
$440Sale Price|20% Off
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
1960’s Porcelain Vase by Polia Pillin
By Polia Pillin
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Polia Pillin glazed porcelain vase circa early 1960’s. Features hand painted figural and nature motifs. Signed.
Porcelain
$188
H 10.44 in W 4.14 in D 4.14 in
Midcentury Ceramic Vase Art Pottery Unterstab Langenhessen 70s Studio Ceramics
Located in Mannheim, DE
Shapely midcentury vase manufactured by 'Kunsttöpferei Gudrun & Ralf Unterstab' Langenhessen, East Germany. Around late 1960s to 1970s. Black glaze in matt and glossy combined with i...
Ceramic
Italian vase in red glass Murano 60s
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Very nice vase in blown glass of Murano from the 60s. Excellent craftsmanship with a beautiful shade of red light that enhances the simple and clean design of the vase drop. Very nic...
Murano Glass
American Mid century Modern California Pottery Ceramic Vase
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful stoneware ceramic vase by creative decorative co inc, made in Japan. Signed noi chips or cracks. Beautiful piece that is timeless and unique.
Pottery
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
Meiji Period Cloisonne Bulbous Cabinet Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonné Enamel Cabinet Vase, circa 1880 A finely detailed Japanese Meiji period cloisonné cabinet vase, dating to the late 1...
Copper
$1,750
H 2.5 in Dm 6.25 in
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
$276Sale Price|30% Off
H 9.85 in W 5.52 in D 4.73 in
Vintage German Vibrant Red Glass Tree Bark Vase by Ingrid Glas, circa 1970s
By Ingrid Glas Euskirchen, Whitefriars
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Wonderful Mid-Century Modern German vase by Ingrid Glas, circa 1970. This beautiful bright red vase brings a touch of fun and fantasy to any room with it's whimsical textured 'tree b...
Glass, Blown Glass
Han Dynasty Ceramic Vase, Gray Earthenware, Bulbous Form, Antique
Located in Houston, TX
This ceramic vase is attributed to the Han dynasty. The form features a classic bulbous body rising to a narrow neck with a gently flared rim, all resting on a subtle footed base. It...
Ceramic
Fine Small Chinese Famille Rose Eggshell Bulbous Vase
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A fine small Chinese famille rose Eggshell bulbous vase First quarter of 20th century. Very thinly potted, bulbous shape, surmounted by a tapering neck with band of ruyi lappe...
Porcelain
$195
H 12 in W 6.25 in D 6 in
Mid-Century Modern Signed California Studio Pottery Tenmoku Glazed Art Vase
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully designed, large glazed artisan California studio pottery vase. The piece appears to be colored with a Tenmoku glaze (sometimes also spelled "temmoku" or "temoku") - a...
Earthenware, Pottery
MCM California Studio Pottery Stoneware Fan Shaped Vase - Signed
Located in San Diego, CA
A very well crafted MCM California studio pottery stoneware fan shaped vase, circa 1970s. The vessel is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 11.25"W x ...
Stoneware
James Lovera California Studio Potter Ceramic Vase, circa 1950s-1960s
By James Lovera
Located in Phoenix, AZ
James Lovera (1920-2015) ceramic studio vase. This beautiful vase by James Lovera has a wonderful and unusual copper colored glaze and dates to the 1960s, perhaps as early as the ...
Clay
Polia Pillin Large Scale Bulbous Ceramic Vase, California, c.1965
By Polia Pillin
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Polia Pillin Large Scale Bulbous Ceramic Vase, California, c.1965. Women w/ Umbrellas, Trees & Dancers.
Ceramic
Studio Pottery Spherical Weed Vase Polia Pillin
By Polia Pillin
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare scale for one of her pieces. Wheel thrown, glazed with hand painted birds. No chips, cracks or repairs. Some crackling within the glaze. Add to collections and interiors....
Ceramic
Selection of Mid Century Modern Glass and Pottery Vases
By Sven Palmquist, Polia Pillin
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of modernist vases, circa 1950s-1960s. They are priced at $850 each. From left to right, they are: 1) Polia Pillin hand painted vase, signed, American, circa 1960s. It meas...
Pottery, Glass
William and Polia Pillin California Studio Pottery Large Scale Vase
By Polia Pillin
Located in Palm Springs, CA
California studio pottery bud vase created by William and Polia Pillin, circa 1960's. Vase measures 9" by 7" and is signed W + P Pillin on the bottom. In very good vintage condition.
Ceramic
Large Polia Pillin Vase Depicting Three Women on Facets
By Polia Pillin
Located in South Charleston, WV
Polia Pillin Italy, 1950s Large Vase 10.25 tall x 8.25 inches wide. A large, vibrant and exquisite example of Polia Pillin's ceramic work from the 1950s. A high gloss glaze is the f...
Ceramic
Vase by Polia Pillin
By Polia Pillin
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vase by Polia Pillin.
Ceramic
Set of Three Pillin Vases/Vessels
By Polia Pillin
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Set of three glazed ceramic vases by Pollia Pillin. All depicting a girl and birds. Measurements from left to right are: 4 x 4 1/2' - 5 1/2" x 6 1/4" - 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". --Compliment...
Ceramic