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Pair of Globular Form Flambe Vases by Palin Thorley
$600per set
£463.60per set
€535.97per set
CA$847.84per set
A$950.91per set
CHF 497.98per set
MX$11,554.52per set
NOK 6,323.49per set
SEK 5,995.11per set
DKK 4,000.74per set
About the Item
Hand-signed, sequentially numbered, and directly sourced from the studio of the artist.
This exceptional pair of flambé-glazed test pots by J. Palin Thorley represents a rare foray into studio experimentation by one of the 20th century’s most accomplished ceramicists. Both pots are hand-signed and sequentially numbered, created as glaze test vessels in Thorley's own studio—never intended for production, but rather for personal study and documentation of specific glaze formulations. Their provenance is especially noteworthy: they were acquired directly from the artist’s studio, offering an unbroken link to the hands of the maker.
The flambé glaze—complex, iridescent, and visually unpredictable—was among several advanced finishes Thorley pursued in his later years, alongside crystalline and lusterware glazes. These pots capture the moment of a master craftsman embracing artistic risk and alchemical process, making them a rare and important example of American studio pottery.
John Palin Thorley (1892–1987) was born into a long lineage of English potters. He began at Wedgwood at age 14, ultimately working there for 14 years before becoming Art Director at several Staffordshire firms. After emigrating to the United States in 1927, Thorley contributed significantly to American ceramic innovation through work at Hall China Company and Taylor & Smith, and later as an influential studio potter in Colonial Williamsburg, where he recreated historically accurate wares for the Craft House Museum Shop.
A celebrated figure in the ceramic arts, Thorley’s ties to Williamsburg culminated in a famed 1957 visit by Queen Elizabeth II, who recognized his name and commissioned a full china service for herself after an impromptu studio stop.
Discovered separately over the span of five years, this reunited pair demonstrates Thorley’s rare engagement with the art pottery tradition—work created not for mass production, but for exploration. Both intellectually and visually compelling, they offer deep appeal for collectors of American modern ceramics, experimental glaze work, and the legacy of craftsmanship rooted in transatlantic ceramic history.
- Creator:Palin Thorley (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Width: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)Depth: 4.5 in (11.43 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Earthenware,Glazed
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. In good shape one piece has a small spot where during firing a small piece separated from the body but stayed attached due to the drippy glaze. See photos.
- Seller Location:Kilmarnock, VA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU883043850302
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