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Clay Moderne: American Ceramics, 1925-1950

Ongoing

Mint Museum Randolph

 

 

   
Cowan Pottery Studio (United States, 1912-1931), R. Guy Cowan, modeler (United States, 1884-1957). Swirl Dancer Flower Holder, circa 1925, earthenware, ivory glaze. Gift of the American Ceramic Society 2006.102.130 Homer Laughlin China Company (United States, 1871-2020), Frederick Hurten Rhead, designer, England, 188-1942). Fiesta Carafe,  circa 1940, earthenware, glaze. Gift of the American Ceramic Society. 2006.102.97A-B Vernon Kilns (United States, 1931-1958), Rockwell Kent, pattern designer (United States, 1882-1971) Salamina Dish, circa 1939, earthenware, glaze (enamel decoration). Gift of the American Ceramic Society 2006.102.55

 

 

Several key trends emerged in American ceramics during the second quarter of the twentieth century. One was the new aesthetic—a streamlined, unornamented style that various ceramic artists and designers adapted from American architecture of the period. Frederick Hurten Rhead’s Fiesta ware and Russel Wright’s American Modern pattern are just two examples of dinner services manifesting this new focus on clean lines and simple, geometric forms. A second trend was the increasing number of women who became widely acknowledged leaders in the field. Maija Grotell, for instance, received 25 major awards during her career as a ceramic artist. Vally Wieselthier’s work was included in the groundbreaking International Exhibition of Ceramic Art, which opened in 1928 at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. She also helped develop the field of ceramic sculpture in the United States. The increase in ceramic sculpture, in fact, was another significant trend of the period. Waylande Gregory, Henry Varnum Poor, and Thelma Frazier Winter are a few of the artists who joined Wieselthier in promoting sculpture as a ceramic art form. Clay Moderne presents works of art from the Mint’s collection to illustrate these various trends and celebrate the careers of some innovative, twentieth-century American artists.

 

R. Guy Cowan / Cowan Pottery Studio

 

Artists who studied under Cowan:

 

Waylande Gregory:

Viktor Schreckengost

Thelma Frazier Winter

 

Other Clay Moderne Artists: 

 

Vally Wieselthier

Rockwell Kent

Henry Varnum Poor

Frederick Hurten Rhead 

  • Biography from the Museum of Ceramics  
  • History of the Homer Laughlin China Company and its signature line, Fiesta Ware, designed by Rhead

Russel Wright

  • Artist Website
  • Overview of Wright's Career, from the New York Times 
  • With Stubenville Pottery Company, Wright designed "American Modern" Dinnerware
  • Wright also worked with the now closed Iroquois China Company
  • Article from Curbed about Wright's Modernist lifestyle

Eva Zeisel 

  • Artist Website
  • With the Hall China Company, Zeisel produced "Hallcraft, Tommorow's Classic" Dinnerware
    • Article from the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum 
    • Article from the International Museum of Dinnerware Design 

 

Maija Grotell - "Mother of American Ceramics"

 

Southern Pottery:

 

Blacksville Pottery

  •  Blacksville Pottery was founded by Charles Tennant in Blacksville, West Virginia. 

Bybee Pottery

  • The Cornelison family founded Bybee pottery in Bybee, Kentucky.
  • Article from the Kentucky Online Arts Resource Blog  
  • Archive from the Bybee Pottery Collection at Eastern Kentucky University
  • Article about the Bybee Pottery's recent history from Richmond Register 

1982 documentary:  

 

 

Pisgah Forest Pottery

  • Walter Benjamin Stephen founded Pisgah Forest Pottery in Arden, North Carolina.
  • Background on an object in the Smithsonian Collection
  • Article on Stephen from NCpedia 
  • Article from Craft Revival  

A.R. Cole Pottery

1969 documentary:

 

Bibliography for resources in the collection

 

 

Created by Shreya Dwibedy, Mint Museum Library Intern, Summer 2021