Ellen Paul Denker
Hot Bodies, Cool Colors: American China Painting in Two Centuries

Ceramics in America 2014

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Dessert plate from set of ten, Caroline Harrison (1832–1892) on blank by Haviland & Co., Limoges, France, dated 1887. Overglaze painting on porcelain. D. 9". Mark: inscribed on underside, “Clam Creek. N.J. / C.S.H. ’87” (Unless otherwise noted, all objects courtesy Denker Collection; photos, Dana Moore.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Underside of the plate illustrated in fig. 1.

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Dessert plate from set of ten, Caroline Harrison (1832–1892) on blank by Haviland & Co., Limoges, France, dated 1887. Overglaze painting on porcelain. H. 1 1/4", W. 9". Marks: inscribed on underside, “Near ‘Gap’”; on small sign in left foreground, “Hope 1 MI” 

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Vase, Cranesbill Geranium with Yellow Butter­flies, Celia Thaxter (1835–1894), dated 1880. China paints on earthenware. H. 7 15/16". Mark: inscribed on side, “The barren island dreams in flowers, while blow / The south winds, drawing haze o’er sea and land, / Yet the great heart of ocean, throbbing slow, / Makes the frail blossoms vibrate as they stand. / Celia Thaxter / 1880” (Courtesy, Strawberry Banke, 1989.34.) 

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Turkish coffee set, Anna B. Leonard (ca. 1860–1937) on blanks by Delinieres & Co. (coffee ewer) and GDA [Haviland] (tray), Limoges, France, 1899. Overglaze painting on porcelain. Ewer: H. 11 1/2"; tray: D. 13 1/4". Marks: signed on ewer, “A B Leonard” and “ABL” monogram; signed on tray, “Anna B. Leonard / New York.” Paper labels on the bottom of the ewer read: “Price / $175.00 / set”; “Anna B. Leonard / 28 E. 23rd St / New York City / National Lea[gue of] / ­Mineral Pain[ters]”; and “N.Y. Society / of Keramic Arts / PRICE $17500”­­­­­

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Detail of the Turkish coffee set illustrated in fig. 5.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Illustration, “PARIS EXHIBIT—ANNA B. LEONARD,” Keramic Studio 1, no. 11 (March 1900): 230. The coffee set is shown in the center.

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Vase, Wild Carrot, Maud Mason (1867–1956), on blank by Willets Manufacturing Co., Trenton, New Jersey, 1902. Overglaze painting on porcelain. H. 16". Mark: signed on bottom, “M.Mason / 1902”

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Vase, Caroline S. Hofman (act. in china painting 1907–1912), New York, New York, on blank by Willets Manufacturing Co., Trenton, New Jersey, ca. 1910. Overglaze painting on porcelain. H. 17 3/4".

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Bowl, Simon Lissim (1900–1981), on blank made by Castleton China, Inc., Castleton, Pennsylvania, 1952. Overglaze painting on porcelain. L. 11 1/8". Mark: signed on rim, “Simon Lissim” 

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Side view of the bowl illustrated in fig. 10.

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Large bird platter, Ralph Bacerra (1938–2008), Los Angeles, California, 1976. Porcelain with enamels. D. 24". (Courtesy, The Newark Museum, Purchase 1986, Wallace M. Scudder Bequest Fund, 86.5.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Covered jar, Iguana, Kurt Weiser (b. 1950), Tempe, Arizona, 1992. China paints on cast porcelain. H. 17 1/4". Mark: signed on bottom, “WEISER” (Courtesy, Collection of Arizona State University Art Museum, Purchased with funds provided by the ASU Art Museum Store, 1993.077.000.) 

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Untitled drawing (in flight over Kansas), Kurt Weiser (b. 1950), 1996. Ink on paper. 11" x 8 1/2". Signed on reverse. (Courtesy, collection of the artist.) 

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Stag Party or Looking through Darkness, Sergei Isupov (b. 1963), Louisville, Kentucky, 1998. Hand-built porcelain with stains and overglazes. H. 16 1/4". Mark: signed on proper left front leg, “ИСУПОВ” (Courtesy, Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Allan Chasanoff Ceramic Collection, 2003.91.16a–b.)

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Post Binary Gender Choice, Kevin Snipes (b. 1963), New Mexico, 2012. Hand-built porcelain with overglazes. Overall H. 13". Mark: signed on bottom, “SNIPES” (Private collection; photo courtesy of the artist.)