Monthly Archives: December 2013

Ceramic bust ‘n’ heads

 

The original sculptural heads and busts were produced from clay for religious icons in the form of various Gods, Goddesses and Deities.  Carved busts in stone were also widespread, and reached an advanced level of artistic expression in the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations.The word bust is derived from the Italian word busto, and more then likely from the latin word bustum, both meaning sepulchral monument. This indicates they were created for a burial vault or a receptacle for sacred relics. They were used on tombs to remember the departed in the form of a ceramic portrait in the form of a bust. Through the ages historical figures were well represented with ceramic portrait busts and also utilised by the ruling class and nobility as a symbol of status. Tomb monuments of prosperous middle-class Romans, very often featured portrait busts and the entrance hall (atrium) of a Roman elite house displayed ancestral portrait busts.

Bronze, marble, and terra-cotta were popular mediums for busts and the importation of Chinese porcelain figurines into Europe stimulated local production of decorative porcelain busts in the 17th century.

A sculpture bust or head was more compact and  more practical for display then a full size statue and obviously more economical. Hence it was adopted more as homes got smaller. It remained a popular item of status and decoration up to the Twentieth Century. After the 30’s it  drifted more into obscurity, but still maintains its place as a decorative item.

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Jardin des Tuileries

Paris 2004

( Photo by Bailey Zimmermen )

Barrias Louis Ernest sculpture bust

Barrias Louis Ernest sculpture bust

 

Garden Buddha bust

Garden Buddha bust

Black bust of Mercury

Black bust of Mercury

( Huntley & Co)

 

 

 

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Oscar Niemeyer – Casa das Canoas – Rio de Janeiro – 1952

 

 

 

large ceramic bust ShinYeon Jeo

Large ceramic bust – ShinYeon Jeo

Charles Gounod by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux

Charles Gounod by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux – 1873

 

 

 

Matt Buckley

Matt Buckley

Janice James :

Janice James’s ceramic ‘tribal heads’ sculptures are a culmination of work combining form and surface pattern, exploring the art of body decoration still practised by global cultures.  Each piece is hand built from Scarva Earthstone clay, biscuit fired to 1000°C and raku fired.

 

Bume -Janice James head sculpture

Bume – Janice James, Wales

John Noott Gallerie

 

 

Aerona- Janice James Wales

Aerona– Janice James

 

 

 

 

Amahle -Janice James female head

Amahle -Janice James female head

John Noott Gallerie

 

 

Surma -Janice James --John Noott Gallerie

Surma -Janice James

John Noott Gallerie

 

 

 

 

Ayira Janice James -female-Head-469x623

Ayira  – ceramic head by Janice James

John Noott Gallerie

 

Kikuyu-I--Janice James

Kikuyu I -Raku head – Janice James

John Noott Gallerie

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Majolica Ceramic Heads, Taormina. Sicily, Italy

( Getty images )

 

 

 

Painted Wooden Buddah

Painted Wooden Buddah with turquoise inlays.

 

 

 

 

Ayelet Lalor - Chryseus garden sculpture

Ayelet Lalor – Chryseus  garden sculpture

 

 

 

 

Ayelet Lalor - serenity

Ayelet Lalor – Serenity

 

 

 

 

 

2 Heads by Gudrun Baudisch

Ceramic heads by Gudrun Baudisch (1907-1982), 1920s, at the Wiener Werkstätte

( hesitationwaltz.com )

 

 

 

 

Frederick Goldscheider

 

Ciseau -Frederick  Goldscheider – Young Lady With Headscarf and Fur Collar, Vienna 1903

 

 

 

 

Contemporary Sculpture

  Noi Volkov

 

 

 

Diane-Chasseresse

Small bronze statuette on a yellow Siena marble bust representing Diana Huntress, by Alexandre Falguire, Thiebaut Frères Paris.

( Marc Menzoyan )

 

 

 

 

Dual Faces Sculpture

Dual Faces Sculpture

 

 

 

 

Elisabeth Dupin - Sjöstedt

Elisabeth Dupin – Sjöstedt

 

 

 Gene Pearson :

 

gene pearson sculptural head

Gene Pearson sculptural head

Natty Dread Thelma Harris Art Gallery

 

 

Gene Pearson

Gene Pearson

 

 

 

Gene Pearson - Sculpture

Gene Pearson – Raku crackle glaze Sculpture

 

 

 

Buddha - Gene Pearson

Buddha – Gene Pearson

 

Gene Pearson

Gene Pearson

gene pearson-495x466

Gene Pearson, Terra Firma Gallery

 

Greek, Attic, red figure terracotta

 

Greek, Attic, red-figure terracotta kantharos (drinking cup with high handles )

ca. 490-480 B.C.

 

 

 

Gudrun Baudisch heads

Gudrun Baudisch ceramic heads

 

 

 

 

Harlequin-496x661

Harlequin head – Tod Donobedian Antiques – 1stdibs

 

 

 

 

Hemba Head - Congo

Hemba Head –  Congo, Africa

 

 

 

CARVED-WOODEN-AKSHOBH-421x563

Carved wooden Akshobhya head.

 

 

Isabelle Dubost - Dessertine

Isabelle Dubost-Dessertine

France

 

 

 

Kathy Waggoner

Kathy Waggoner

 

 

 

Liz Ciesluk Paverpol

Liz Ciesluk Paverpol

 

 

 

Malvina Hoffman

Malvina Hoffman

 

 

 

Nanouris Art Gallery

 Phillipos (Greek King of Macedonia) – Yiannis Nanouris

Nanouris Art Gallery

See more on the veniceclayartists post Contemporary sculptures from Greece

 

 

 

 

Oscar Jespers

Oscar Jespers – cubist head sculpture

 

 

 

Sarah Saunders

Sarah Saunders

 

 

Suzie Zamit

Suzie Zamit

 

 

 

Syrian Artist - Assem Al Bacha

Syrian Artist – Assem Al Bacha

Porcelain-Bust-of-Victorian-415x774

Porcelain Bust of Victorian lady by Cordey

( Galerie Sommerlath, CA, USA )

 

 

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Pottery Arts – The Masters

 

 

PotteryArts The Masters-493x349

 

Masters of the ceramic arts :

 

This post celebrates the potters and pottery companies that have been recognized for their contribution to the ceramic arts with their unique designs, innovations and classic creations and their influence in introducing new styles and movements in the field of ceramics. Artists that are less recognized but have created masterful pieces are also included. In some instances this might come from one of those days where moments of inspiration find their way into the studio and a unique piece of art is the outcome. Or maybe the kiln roulette just happens to deliver a truly remarkable ceramic.

Potters can spend years experimenting and trying different clays, glazes and kiln temperatures looking for that extraordinary appearance or trying to rediscover techniques that were lost in antiquity. New technologies and materials also present fresh challenges and a new frontier of art is forever beckoning. The diversity of parameters makes the pottery arts a journey of evolution and intrigue. Sometimes chance delivers an unexpected result or a more deliberate method is indulged with a perfect conclusion. The element of discovery is always a driving force in the claysrt discipline and it’s a continual pleasure to witness these achievements in pottery.

 

 

Edwin & Mary Sheier

Edwin & Mary Sheier

 

 

Edwin & Mary Sheier

Edwin & Mary Sheier

 

 

Sculptural Handles Vase By Émile DeCoeur

Sculptural Handles Vase By Émile DeCoeur

 

 

Stig Lindberg Figural Horse

Stig Lindberg Figural Horse – Gustavsberg, Sweden

 

 

 

Toshiko Takaezu

Toshiko Takaezu

 

PITCHER-BY-Emille-Galle

Jug by Emille Galle, France

 

 

 

Beatrice Wood vase

Beatrice Wood –  iridescent drip glaze gourd shape vase

Beatrice Wood,-1893-1998

Tea bowl  – Beatrice Wood

( 1893-1998 )

 

 

Ceramic Sculpture By Claud Conover

Ceramic sculptural vessel  by Claud Conover

 

 

 

 

Clyde Burt

Clyde Burt

Clyde Burt Ovoid Pot

Clyde Burt – abstract ovoid pot

( Wrights Auctions )

 

Delphin Massier - Vallauris

Delphin Massier -iridescent vase

Vallauris, France</

 

De Morgan - Ceramic vase

De Morgan – Ceramic vase

 

 

 

 

bowl_ernest-chaplet

Ernest Chaplet bowl

 

 

 

 

LONGWY Figural Vase - 466x575

Longwy Figural Vase, France

 

 

Matsui Kôsei (1927-2003)

Matsui Kôsei (1927-2003)

 

 

Max Laeuger

Max Laeuger – 1897

 

Ruth Duckworth bowl

Ruth Duckworth bowl

 

 

Hans Coper ceramic bottle

Hans Coper sculptural ceramic bottle

 

Hans Coper

Hans Coper

 

 

Taxille Doat

Taxile Doat

Taxile Doat (1851-1939) was a French potter who is primarily known for his experimentation with high-fired porcelain (grand feu) and stoneware using the pâte-sur-pâte technique. His book on these techniques Grand Feu Ceramicswas published in 1905 and helped spread his discoveries internationally

 

 

BUTHAUD René,Vase

René Buthaud ,Vase

 

 

 

 

BUTHAUD-René,A bowl

 René Buthaud, bowl

 

Frederick Rhead

Frederick Rhead

Frederick Rhead, one of the pioneers of mass production ceramics is best remembered for his Fiesta Dinnerware.

 

 

 

mihara ken

Mihara Ken

 

 

 

Mihara Ken

Mihara Ken

 

 

 

Peter Voulkos mid century vessels

Peter Voulkos mid-century vessels

 

 

1940s Ceramic Vase by Pierrefonds

1940s Ceramic Vase by Pierrefonds, France

 

 

Barbara Hepworth 959

Barbara Hepworth 1959

 

 

Gertrude and Otto Natzler

Gertrude and Otto Natzler

 

natzler

Gertrude and Otto Natzler

 Bulbous, stem-mouthed gourd-form of porcellaneous red clay glazed in a superior rendition of the Natzlers starry night crystalline.

 

 

Gertrude-and-Otto-Natzler

Gertrude and Otto Natzler

 

 

Lucie Rie

Lucie Rie

 

 

 

Lucie Rie

Lucie Rie

 

 

 

Shane Norrie bpwl

Shane Norrie bowl – Canada

Hideaki Miyamura, vase

Hideaki Miyamura, vase

Vase - Edouard Cazaux

30’s crackle glaze vase – Edouard Cazaux, France

Dunand Jean

Jean Dunand -Switzerland

( 1877-1942 )

F.-Carlton-Ball 1967

F.-Carlton-Ball 1967

Rick Rudd sculptural vase

Rick Rudd – sculptural vase, NZ

Otto-Heino-blue-glazed-jar-493x434

Otto Heino blue glazed stoneware vase

Vivika and Otto Heino

Spherical vase – Vivika and Otto Heino

( Bonhams, San Fransisco )

“Pottery, if it is to be of any lasting value, must have life…How is this ‘life’ achieved in one’s work? It is the result of the combination of two factors: the completeness of craftsmanship and the expression of the indivduality of the potter.” – Viveka Heino

Weller Jap Birdimal Vase

Weller Jap Birdimal Vase

Clarice Cliff Jug

Clarice Cliff  ” Coral Firs ” jug

( Boldon Auctions )

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Ceramics Moderno – Marcello Fantoni

 

Italian ceramics Maestro Fantoni

 

Raymor was a US import/distribution company of  home decor, based in NY and founded by Richard Irving. They built a special relationship with many European designers and this included Marcello Fantoni, for the emerging markets in the USA. In the early 50‘s,  postwar Italy was in recovery and needed exports while postwar America was booming and had a hunger for modern decor. The pottery styles of the talented Macrello Fantoni with his cutting edge designs were a perfect fit and his business flourished. This afforded him the freedom to experiment and be innovative and develop a unique range of stylish Mid-Century ceramic products.
Relative to the more classical trends at the time, Fantoni pushed the boundaries, with his bold 3D ceramic interpretations of the cubist art of  Picasso and Braque. These innovations were accepted and encouraged by importers and fortunately the market responded favourably.

Marcello Fantoni - abstract figure

Marcello Fantoni – abstract figure

( midcenturia.com )

Marcello Fantoni’s fascination with ceramic art stretches back to 1927, where he studied at the Institute of Art at Porta Romana. Here his formative years were influenced by ceramicist Carlo Guerrini, (artistic director of the Cantagalli factory) and other teachers including Libero Andreotti and Bruno Innocenti in sculpture and Gianni Vagnetti in figure art. He established the Fantoni Ceramic Studio in Florence in 1936 and featured  some of his pieces at  Florentine Arts and Crafts Exhibit in 1937 where it was widely embraced. In the later decades, especially from the 50’s to the 70’s, the success of Fantoni’s work continued to rise, his unique pieces of sculpture and ceramic formations being characterized by  designs in step with the contemporary artistic styles.

Most Mid-Century collectors covet a Marcello Fantoni piece for their flair and originality. Fantoni’s ceramic designs came to embody the timeless appeal of classic and traditional Italian pottery merged with challenging modernist and progressive movements. His  original spirit of modernity featuring  stylization inspired by Etruscan models were rendered modern because of the innovative adaptation of materials, glazes and colors and also his application of cubist abstractions. Fantoni represents a fascinating chapter in the evolution of Mid-Century modern ceramics.

 

Fantoni Pitcher

Fantoni modernist, monumental bottleneck vase, 1955

Converso

 

 

 

Fantoni ceramic sculpture

Fantoni ceramic sculpture

( sold by Craig Van Den Brulle, NY )

 Fantoni Figural statue-457x771

 Fantoni figural sculpture

 

 

 

Marcello Fantoni sculptural vessel

Marcello Fantoni sculptural vessel featuring a warrior with a shield and spear.

( artanddesignconnection.blogspot.com.au  )

 

 

 

Fantoni Italian Vase

Fantoni Italian Vase

( artanddesignconnection.blogspot.com.au  )

 

 

 

 

Fantoni modernist bottle

Fantoni modernist bottle

 

 

 

 

Fantoni Glazed Creamic Three bottles

Fantoni  – Three Element Glazed Ceramic Vase – 1956

 

 

 

 

20th century large Fantoni vase

20th century large Fantoni vase – 1959

 

 

 

Fantoni Hand Painted Ceramic Lamp

Fantoni Hand Painted Ceramic Lamp

( www.starkeld.com )

 

 

 

 

3 Fantoni vases

3 Fantoni vases{

( Maurice Beane Art & Design )

 

 

Las Vegas Antiques Roadshow appraisal of a Marcello Fantoni cubist Satyr figure

Appraised  by Stuart Slavid (Skinner, Boston)
August 2007


 

 

 

Fantoni Jug

Marcello Fantoni Jug

 

 

 

 

Fantoni Cylindrical vase

Fantoni Cylindrical vase

 

 

 

 

Fantoni modernist vase

Fantoni modernist vase

( cambiaste.com )

 

 

 

Italian Fantoni tri bottle sculpture

Italian Fantoni tri bottle sculpture

( Treadway Toomey Galleries )

 

 

 

Fantoni abstract sculpture

Fantoni abstract sculpture

( uncanny Australia shape )

 

 

 

Fantoni Handpainted Lamp

Fantoni Hand painted lamp

 

 

 

 

Fantoni Italian Vase

Fantoni Italian Vase with a warrior figure on a horse.

 

 

 

Fantoni Figural Vase

Marcello Fantoni Figural Vase

 

 

 

Fantoni Mid Century Vase

Fantoni Mid Century Vase

 

 

Fantoni Vase designed for Raymor

Fantoni Vase designed for Raymor

 

 

Fantoni bottiglia

Fantoni bottiglia, Italy

 

 

 

Fantoni ceramic sculpture

Fantoni ceramic sculpture

( 1stDibs )

 

 

 

Marcello Fantoni-B&W

Marcello Fantoni  1915 – 2011

 

 

 

Fantoni wall plaque

Fantoni  Mid-Century wall plaque

( www.starkeld.com )

 

 

 

Fantoni Italian pottery vase

Fantoni Italian pottery vase

 

 

 

 

Gossiping Ladies by Fantoni

‘ Gossiping Ladies ‘ cubist  ‘Satiro Innamorato’ sculptural lamp by Fantoni – mid 50’s

http://modernarmada.wordpress.com )

 

 

 

Fantoni drip glaze vases

Fantoni drip glaze vases

 

 

 

 

High cylindrical vase Fantoni

Tall cylindrical bottle vase  – Fantoni

 

 

 

 

Large sculpture abstract Fantoni

Large sculpture abstract Fantoni

 

 

 

 

LAu-Uniques-ans-Antiques.jpg-433x760

 Fantoni bottle

 

 

 

Marcello Fantoni Vase (1915)

Marcello Fantoni ovoid vase (1915)

 

 

 

 

FantoniPtichers.jpg-473x650

Fantoni tall modernist ptichers

 

 

 

 

 

Marcello Fantoni vase

Marcello Fantoni vase

 

 

 

 

Marcello Fantoni Figural Sculpture

Marcello Fantoni Figural Sculpture

 

 

Marcello-Fantoni-Vase-Flower-Pot-Modernist-Berlin-etsy

 Fantoni flower vase

Modernist Berlin etsy

 

 

 

Vase Fantoni

Italian Vase Fantoni

 

 

 

 

whimsical-cow-figure-decorated-with-geometric-shapes-in-polychrome-glazes.-Signed--Fantoni-Italy--Ragoarts

Fantoni abstract mid century cow sculpture

 

 

 

Huge-Fantoni-Table-Lamp-sputnlk-modern-41inches with harelquin warrior figure

Mid Century Harlequin warrior figure cylindrical lamp – Marcello Fantoni

Large 41 inches

Sputnik Modern, Dallas TX

 

 

Marcello-Fantoni-1960-33cm

Fantoni Slab Vase – 1960

height 33cm

 

 

 

Fantoni square bottle 50's

Fantoni 50’s bottle vase

Fantoni rectangular vase

Italian Fantoni rectangular  vase

 

 

MARCELLO-FANTONI-Etruscan-ceramic-vase-with-sgraffito-decoration--the-interior-covered-in-blue-glaze red on white exterior

 Etruscan sgraffito ceramic vase – Marcello Fantoni

Sold Rago Arts, NJ

 

 

 

Pair-of-Fantoni-Ceramic-Lamps 60's 32inches in height

 Pair of Fantoni 60’s lamps

 

 

 

Ceramicist James Whiting

 

James Whiting  lived in Japan for many years and his passion for ceramics developed there; the Japanese aesthetic has greatly influenced his work. This is apparent with the innate balance and harmony that is revealed in his pieces. Viewing his ceramics is a journey through landscapes of textural diversity, favouring earthy tones with the occasional splash of colour. His current work is predominately hand-built and functional.. Over the years he has worked with a wide variety of techniques: coils, slabs, nerikomi (layering colored clays), scraffito, inlay, pinch pots, wax resist and slip/underglaze painting, embossing, burnishing, sculpting/hollowing-out/re-assembling, and others, and is always exploring new ideas and techniques.

He presently resides in the  San Francisco Bay Area where he also pursues photography and teaching. James Whiting’s website is HERE

 

 

 

 

Platter -Soda-fired

Platter -Soda-fired –  James Whiting

 

 

 

 

James Whiting cup

James Whiting cup

 

 

 

 

USA ceramics James Whiting

 Porcelain cups in Lavender and White – USA ceramicist James Whiting

 

 

 

 

James Whiting vase porcelain

James Whiting  porcelain vase – Height – 28 “

 

 

James Whiting Cups

Cups, Porcelain with Soda Ash and Shino Glaze On Inside

 

 

James Whiting Ceramics

James Whiting asymmetrical cup – porcelain with blue clay inlay

 

James Whiting ceramics

James Whiting cup

 

 

 

 

 

 

Platter James Whiting

Platter with Cat In The Rain inlay –  James Whiting

 

 

 mr_yakimono James Whiting

 

James Whiting with the Loch Ness Swan vessel

 

 

 

 

James Whiting ceramic cup

 James Whiting ceramic cup – a snakeskin texture with orange surface.

 

 

 

Platter James Whiting

Platter with textured back –  James Whiting

 

 

 

 

James Whiting Drinking Cup

James Whiting – Sake cup No.2  with tripod base

 

 

 

 

James-Whiting, Cups,-Shino

James Whiting, –  Cups with  Shino inside.

 

 

 

 

James Whiting. Vase,-40cm Height

James Whiting. Vase – 40cm Height

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Whiting-cups

James Whiting – Cups with mauve and pink inlay

 

 

 

 

James Whiting - stacked bowls

James Whiting – stacked bowls with lid

 

 

 

 

James Whiting _ vase

James Whiting – Brown and White vase

 

 

 

 

 

James-Whiting - vase

James-Whiting – vase

 

Cup - white black blue

Cup No. 3 – white, black & blue

 

 

James Whiting vase

James Whiting vase

 

 

 

 

James Whiting  _  vase

James Whiting  –  cylindrical vase

 

 

 

 

James Whiting -- Porcelain Bowl

James Whiting –  Bowl, Porcelain with Soda Ash and Shino Glaze,

 

 

 

 

James Whiting -- Large Blue jar

James Whiting – Large Blue Jar With Lid, 43cm/17″ tall

 

James Whiting cups

James Whiting cups

 

 

James Whiting -- Pitcher

 James Whiting, modern ceramic Pitcher

 

 

 

 

James Whiting---Platter

James Whiting  – Platter

 

 

 

 

James Whiting---Teapot

James Whiting – Black Teapot

 

 

 

 

James Whiting --- Urn for Zippy the cat

James Whiting — Urn for Zippy the cat

 

 

 

 

c

James Whiting vase.- height, 32 inches

 

 

 

 

 

Platter -3 Legs, With Cut Out

Platter – 3 Legs, With Cut Out

 

 

 

 

 

James Whiting teapot

James Whiting – turquoise teapot