Derek Smith Blackfriars Linear Pattern Blue Glazed Studio Pottery Bowl

A stylish English studio pottery bowl decorated in blue glazes with a trailing snake design by William Illesley (British, b.1948) and made at hi...

A stunning Canadian studio pottery miniature bowl decorated in yellow glazes with an associated pottery stand by Lane Gordon Thorlaksson (Canadian, 1937-2009) dated 1976. Lane Gordon Thorlaksson was born in 1937 in Winnipeg, Manitoba and moved to Vancouver as a child. In his twenties, he represented Canada in the 1959 Chicago Pan-American Games, running alongside Henry 'Harry' Winston Jerome in both the 100 yard and 220-yard dash. Following this, he attended San Jose University of California and in 1966 received a BFA in Ceramics. Working with clay was Thorlaksson’s passion. He was fascinated with Asian ceramics, in particular the Song dynasty Chinese pot forms and glazes. In 1985, the Mayor of Vancouver, Mike Harcourt, visited China on a goodwill mission for the twinning of Vancouver with Guangzhou China. As gifts, he took with him several of Thorlaksson’s ceramics and presented them to Cao Yun-ping, Secretary-General of the People's Municipal Government of Guangzhou. The pieces were well received and local Chinese potters were interested to learn about his glazing techniques. In 1987, Thorlaksson was invited to visit China’s Guangzhou University to exhibit more of his work. He was aided in this exchange by Joanne Mah, the Director of Intercultural Training and Educational Consultants (ITEC), who had worked with the Harcourt exchange. In 1988, she and her husband sponsored a pre-gallery showing of Thorlaksson’s ceramics at the ITEC’s Hong Kong office, prior to an exhibition at Alvin Gallery in Hong Kong. Thorlaksson was celebrated and introduced to academics and the media, including the head of ceramics at the Guangzhou Institute of Fine Arts. Local Chinese potters were eager to learn about his firing techniques, which used multiple firings to create special glaze characteristics. They were also intrigued to understand how he designed his own stands as an integrated part of his presentation. Unlike Asian potters who used wooden stands, Thorlaksson produced his stands in clay, matching each stand in aesthetic and tone to its pot. This two-part process elevated his pieces to sculpture. He believed that ceramics should be viewed as fine art and not craft. He was inspired by the female form and was quoted as saying 'Most potters make pots; I make parts of people'. The bowl is of wide squat rounded form with a fold over rim and is decorated in pale yellow glazes over a brown ground and stands on a narrow round unglazed foot. The design is probably based and inspired by a Chinese brush washer...

A gorgeous work by 20th century master American and renowned Minnesota studio potter/artist Warren MacKenzie. The three-footed tenmoku glazed bowl is signed/ stamped along the foot rim by MacKenzie and features a unique decorative pattern. The dark, rich glaze radiates in the light. This work would a great addition to any Warren Mackenzie or modern pottery/ ceramic collection or eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting. A student of both famed ceramic artists Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, Mackenzie is credited with bringing the functional Japanese Mingei tradition and craft to the United States and spreading it through his own art and teaching mentorship during his long tenure at the University of Minnesota. Along with being named a Regent’s Professor, and a fellow of the International Academy of Ceramics, the highly decorated and awarded MacKenzie was the first to receive the Minnesota Governor’s Award in Crafts in 1986. He later received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Minnesota Crafts Council in 1997 and a year later he was honored with the Gold Medal from the American Crafts Council. His work can be found in numerous collections and museums including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The National Folk Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England Contemporary American Crafts...

Famed California Mid-Century Modern artist Beatrice wood signed bowl featuring her highly coveted deep ash blue iridescent lustre/luster glaze. In certain light, the glaze radiates as a purple hue in some areas. The glaze runs down the sides and gathers in areas underneath. This piece comes with an interesting history/ provenance. This piece came from Beatrice's personal collection. She was using it as a coin and key holder in her Ojai house which accounts for the cracks in the glaze. It was gifted to Maria Anderson who assisted Beatrice around her home. We considered having the work restored but because of its history feel that it offers more value to the next owner as shown. This was apparently the condition it was given in as Wood was famous for noting about her work that objects that are not quite perfect are simply that...perfect because of their imperfections. A very Wabi-Sabi view. Flawed Beauty. We love the piece and the history. Signed with her customary "Beato" on the underside. Would be an amazing addition to any collection of her work or a fabulous, eye-catching Stand-alone piece in any setting, Mid-Century Modern or otherwise. Know famously in the art world as "The Mama of Dada...