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Light Gatherer

Object Details

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Rudolf Staffel created his porcelain works by pinching, scouring, and folding the clay. He manipulated the thickness of each vessel's walls so that the light creates different patterns and shapes as it filters through. Staffel began his "Light Gatherers" series in the mid-1950s. At first, he stained the pieces with colors, but in later years as the series evolved he chose to maintain the pure, unglazed white of the porcelain, with only an occasional hint of color. He began some of the pieces on a potter's wheel, while others he hand built for an uneven, layered appearance. Each work is unique, but all of the pieces in the series share the ability to capture and transmit light.
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Artist
Rudolf Staffel, born San Antonio, TX 1911-died Alfred, NY 2002
Date
1987
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of KPMG Peat Marwick
Medium
porcelain
Dimensions
9 1/4 x 6 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. (23.5 x 15.9 x 13.4 cm.)
Type
Decorative Arts-Ceramic
Crafts
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International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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