American Art Pottery & 20th Century Design by  
Mark Bassett     (aka 'potterybooks')
Author of Understanding Roseville Pottery
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Edris Eckhardt Studio Glass Sculpture Miss Muffet

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Directory: Fine Art:Sculpture: Pre 1980: Item # 665205





Mark Bassett (aka 'potterybooks')
Author of Understanding Roseville Pottery
P.O. Box 771233, Lakewood, OH 44107
216-221-6025

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$1500.00

Edris Eckhardt Studio Glass Sculpture Miss Muffet
This outstanding sculpture by internationally renowned Cleveland School artist Edris Eckhardt is 6.5" tall and signed "Edris Eckhardt." Probably made in the 1970s.

Eckhardt is one of the handful of artists whose work was celebrated in DIVERSIONS OF KERAMOS: AMERICAN CLAY SCULPTURE, 1920-1950, at the Everson Museum of Art (Syracuse), because of her innovative work in ceramic sculpture, both as head of the Cleveland WPA Ceramics project and later as an independent (and prize-winning) artist. After about 1950, she turned to studio glass, and again won a series of important awards for her work.

The storybook figures emerged early in her career, while working for the WPA during 1935 and afterward. Those limited edition ceramic figures were originally intended to use during Story Hour at Cleveland and other grade schools and libraries. They were thus a form of "Art for Education," supplementing literacy programs by exciting children about the idea of learning to read.

In the mid 1970s, Edris returned to those ideas of more than 30 years before, and cast a few examples in "cire perdue" (or "lost wax") glass, even though some refer to it as "pate de verre."

These studio glass sculptures were made in extremely limited quantities, so are very rare today. The coloration varied with each example.

This piece is from the MOTHER GOOSE series, and depicts "Little Miss Muffet." Outstanding condition, with only a small chip on the bottom that may have occurred during production. It was subsequently either polished or refired--perhaps by Eckhardt. Also note that one of the spider's legs pulled away from the base during the casting process (original).

There will be an article called "Getting to Know Edris Eckhardt," written by a friend and collector, in the July/August 2007 issue of JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ART POTTERY ASSOCIATION. To join, visit www.AmArtPot.org.

For detailed photos, visit
www.markbassett.com/Muffet1.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet2.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet3.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet4.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet5.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet6.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet7.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet8.JPG
www.markbassett.com/Muffet9.JPG

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