We end our tribute to Pope Francis—and the simple, elegant, white ceramics which remind us of him—with this handsome, Art Deco piece, circa 1935.
It was made by Roseville, a ceramics workshop founded in Roseville, Ohio, in 1890. Initially, Roseville made "utilitarian wares" like flower pots and umbrella stands. Over the years, Roseville added dozens of "lines" of pottery, from the delicately hand-painted studio wares to the high-volume mass production wares. Roseville also made several pieces (shapes) which they produced as "blanks"—that is, bisque-fired pieces which could be stored for glazing (and possibly decoration) later, as the orders came in. This strategy allowed Roseville to maintain maximum flexibility, only committing to the production of a specific piece after it had been ordered. The two-handled vase, shown above, is such a piece.
This Art Deco masterpiece—like a stepped flying saucer—has a strong "Jetsons" vibe to it. Here it is shown in a handsome, satin white glaze. But it might have also been glazed in one of the Carnelian glazes or any number of other colorways. The designer of the form really knocked it out-of-the-park with this nicely-balanced shape which incorporates both substantial weight (the stepped body) and exquisite delicacy (the two handles). Click on the photo above to learn more about it.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.