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Teacup

Object Details

Luce Center Label
Marguerite Wildenhain was employed as a designer at a porcelain factory in Germany in 1915, and continued to work with industrially produced products when she apprenticed at the Bauhaus from 1919 to 1926. This tea set demonstrates the artist’s departure from a mass-produced style of pottery to unique pieces expressive of her emotions. Wildenhain saw a great deal of beauty in the raw clay, and often made pieces that were partially or wholly unglazed. The colors and forms of her pots reflect her interest in nature, emphasized in the earthy color of this set.
Luce Object Quote
“It is not enough for a spout to pour; it must pour in the right amount, not like a watering can . . . that floods the cup and carpet . . . The spout, moreover, should start at some special part of the belly---usually rather low for a teapot, since you do not want the tea leaves that float on the top of the water to clog . . . the spout . . .” Artist quoted in “Marguerite: A Retrospective Exhibition,” 1980-1981
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Artist
Marguerite Wildenhain, born Lyons, France 1896-died Guerneville, CA 1985
Fabricator
Pond Farm
Date
ca. 1971
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alexander L. and Frances J. Pickens
Medium
glazed stoneware
Dimensions
2 7/8 x 4 1/4 in. (7.3 x 10.8 cm.) diam.
Type
Decorative Arts-Ceramic
Crafts
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