Vase

Beatrice Wood, Vase, ca. 1978, earthenware with lustres, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jane Warren Larson, 1991.140
Beatrice Wood, Vase, ca. 1978, earthenware with lustres, 7 in. (17.8 cm.) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jane Warren Larson, 1991.140

Artwork Details

Title
Vase
Date
ca. 1978
Dimensions
7 in. (17.8 cm.) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of Jane Warren Larson
Mediums
Mediums Description
earthenware with lustres
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure
Object Number
1991.140

Artwork Description

Beatrice Wood began to incorporate relief images into her pottery as a result of her exposure to craft and folk art from India. She first traveled to India in 1962 and made two subsequent trips there in 1965 and 1972. She was drawn to the primitive and rough appearances of many of the pieces as well as their use of color, which comes through in her vibrant lusters. The seated figures on this vase look as though they could be praying and may reflect Wood’s interest in Hindu art.

Works by this artist (29 items)

Alexander Calder, Gwenfritz, ca. 1968, iron, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, 1969.116
Gwenfritz
Dateca. 1968
iron
On view
Alexander Calder, Maquette for Flamingo, 1972, riveted and painted aluminum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1980.49.3
Maquette for Flamingo
Date1972
riveted and painted aluminum
On view
Alexander Calder, The Antlers, 1944, plaster, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alexander Calder, 1971.359
The Antlers
Date1944
plaster
On view
Alexander Calder, The Acrobats, 1944, plaster, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alexander Calder, 1971.358A-B
The Acrobats
Date1944
plaster
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Beatrice Wood, Small Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six, 1951, earthenware and glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 2008.5.8
Small Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six
Date1951
earthenware and glaze
Not on view
Beatrice Wood, Ceramic Service for Eight (64 pieces with 10 serving pieces), ca. 1979, earthenware with lusters, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of George C. Zachary in memory of Beatrice Wood's centennial birthday and in memory of John Waller, 1993.64.1-74
Ceramic Service for Eight (64 pieces with 10 serving pieces)
Dateca. 1979
earthenware with lusters
Not on view
Beatrice Wood, Large Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six, 1951, earthenware and glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 2008.5.1
Large Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six
Date1951
earthenware and glaze
Not on view
Gertrud Natzler, Otto Natzler, Bottle Vase, 1962, earthenware and lapis lazuli glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jozef and Betty Huse Pielage, 1997.40
Bottle Vase
Date1962
earthenware and lapis lazuli glaze
Not on view