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.
$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
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
Antique Chinese Porcelain Vase, Bulbous Shape, Floral Design
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Chinese (Early 20th Century) bulbous porcelain vase with pink florals and a yellow-chested bird amid green leaves on one side and characters on the reverse. There is speckled...
Porcelain
$187
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
20th Century Chinese Celadon Glazed Bulbous Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Chinese glazed porcelain vase in a celadon color with a bulbous form (date mark on bottom, see photos).
Porcelain
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
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
MCM California Studio Pottery Stoneware Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice MCM California studio pottery stoneware vase with brown earth tones, circa 1970s. The vessel is in very good vintage condition with no chips...
Pottery
Pair Chinese Porcleain Vases - Qianlong Urns Bulbous Shangping Form
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Stunning pair of Chinese Qianlong style porcelain vases with bulbous Shangping form Such a delicate colour scheme, will definitely take centre stage as part of any interiors scheme O...
Porcelain
California Studio Pottery Ikebana Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
California studio pottery signed ikebana vase with multiple openings, circa 1960s. This very unique piece measures: 4.5" D x 14.5" H and is signed on the ...
Pottery
Antonio Prieto Ceramic Vase, Bulbous Shape, Mid-Century Modern
By Antonio Prieto
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful vase by Antonio Preto. In a bulbous shape with an incised linear pattern. Piece is signed.
Ceramic
Catalina California Pottery Vase
By Catalina Pottery
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very nice ribbed Mid Century vase with buttery smooth off white glaze and a turquoise interior . Crafted by the Catalina Pottery company located on Catalina Inland but moving manufacturing to the GMB...
Pottery
$463
H 8.15 in W 4.53 in D 3.94 in
Whitefriars Style Vintage 1970s Vibrant Ruby Red Tree Bark Textured Glass Vase
By Whitefriars, Ingrid Glas Euskirchen
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Wonderful Mid-Century Modern glass vase in the style of British glass manufacturer, Whitefriars Glass, circa 1970s. This beautiful bright red vase brings a touch of fun and fantasy to any room with it's whimsical textured 'tree bark' form captured in vivid, vibrant ruby red coloured / colored mouth blown molded glass...
Glass, Blown Glass
MCM California Studio Pottery Stoneware Vase
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice MCM California studio pottery stoneware vase with brown and green earth tones and pinched sides, circa 1966. The vessel is in very good vint...
Pottery
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 Polia Pillin, Sven Palmquist
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