Vase

Vase

1902
Manufacturer
Ruskin Pottery, British
Work Locations: Smethwick, England, United Kingdom
Active Dates: 1898-1935
Country
England
Object
vase
Medium
Ceramic (earthenware) with high-fired flambé glaze
Accession Number
2015.379
Credit Line
Gift of the Collection of Carl Patterson

Vase, 1902. Ceramic (earthenware) with high-fired flambé glaze; 6 5/8 x 4 1/4 in. Manufactured by Ruskin Pottery, West Smethwick, England. Denver Art Museum: Gift of the Collection of Carl Patterson, 2015.379.

Dimensions
height: 6 5/8 in, 16.8275 cm; diameter: 4 1/4 in, 10.7950 cm
Inscription
Underside: Ruskin Pottery West Smethwick 19??
Department
Architecture and Design
Collection
Architecture and Design
This object is currently on view

William Howson Taylor’s greatest glaze accomplishment was his high-fired flambé glaze, inspired by red glazes made in China during the 1600s and 1700s. This achievement required mastering the reduction-firing process, where the potter reduces the amount of oxygen in the kiln, which then causes copper-based oxides in the glaze to generate a range of colors, including cherry red, green, purple, and blue. The highly unpredictable process resulted in one-of-a-kind pieces.

Known Provenance
Gifted 2015 by Carl Patterson to the Denver Art Museum.
Exhibition History
  • "Artistry and Craftsmanship: Ruskin Pottery, Enamels, and Buttons"—Denver Art Museum, 11/29/2015 - 11/12/2017
  • “By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects” — Denver Art Museum, 10/24/2021 – 1/1/2024