Royal Jelly

Kathy Butterly, Royal Jelly, 1996, glazed porcelain, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 1997.46
Copied Kathy Butterly, Royal Jelly, 1996, glazed porcelain, 4 1⁄2 x 3 3⁄8 in. (11.4 x 8.6 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 1997.46

Artwork Details

Title
Royal Jelly
Artist
Date
1996
Location
Dimensions
4 1⁄2 x 3 3⁄8 in. (11.4 x 8.6 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art
Mediums
Mediums Description
glazed porcelain
Classifications
Object Number
1997.46
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.46

Artwork Description

Royal Jelly displays Kathy Butterly’s signature style of forming small works out of curving and intertwining forms. She has made the walls of this cup so thin that light is able to shine through the glaze, creating a soft and fleshlike surface. The title refers to the food that the queen bee eats inside the beehive. Royal jelly is also thought to provide excellent health benefits for humans, such as relieving stress and depression, improving stamina, and preventing premature aging.