Bearded Iris-Cobalt

Mary Carroll, Bearded Iris-Cobalt, 1996, polychrome glazed hand-built earthenware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist in honor of Frederick William Robert Hunt, 1998.54
Copied Mary Carroll, Bearded Iris-Cobalt, 1996, polychrome glazed hand-built earthenware, 181817 14 in. (45.845.843.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist in honor of Frederick William Robert Hunt, 1998.54

Artwork Details

Title
Bearded Iris-Cobalt
Artist
Date
1996
Dimensions
181817 14 in. (45.845.843.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist in honor of Frederick William Robert Hunt
Mediums
Mediums Description
polychrome glazed hand-built earthenware
Classifications
Keywords
  • Object — flower — iris
Object Number
1998.54

Artwork Description

Mary Carroll built the ornate and colorful Bearded Iris-Cobalt using coils and slabs of clay. She created the flower's texture by pressing the clay into molds made from savoy cabbage, whose leaves resemble iris petals. The colors and forms of the fully opened blooms evoke sensuality and boldness, strength and delicacy. Carroll uses anywhere from eight to ten layers of glaze, in a pot saturated in bold color, creating a glistening patch of flowers.