Square low vase / Markham Art Pottery
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2007/1.97
- Title
- Square low vase
- Artist
- Markham Art Pottery
- Artist Nationality
- American
- Medium and Support
- stoneware with matte glaze
- Object Creation Date
- 1904-1913
- Object Creation Place
- North and Central America (continent)
- United States (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- North and Central America (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- United States (nation)
- Dimensions
- 9.4 cm x 11.8 cm x 6.2 cm (3 11/16 in. x 4 5/8 in. x 2 7/16 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Ceramic
- Primary Object Type
- vase
- Physical Description
- This small square vase has a body with a raised pattern and a matte glaze of orange and brown colors.
- Subject Matter
- Ann Arbor-based Markham Pottery began when Herman C. Markham, a traveling salesman and a devoted grower of roses, found that he could not get an adequate supply of vases that kept the water cool enough to keep the blooms of his roses fresh. In the mid-1880s, he began working with the clay in his yard to create utilitarian vases whose understated beauty enhanced, rather than competed, with his roses. By 1905, Markham was joined in the enterprise by his son Kenneth. The pottery that the Markhams developed consisted of a low-fired ceramic body based on classical forms decorated with a distinctive webbing of low relief clay that is part of the mold. Usually fired with matte glazes in earthen colors and stains, the delicacy of Markham ware made their products quite popular.
- In 1913, the Markhams moved their pottery to National City, California, near San Diego. There they could take advantage of workspace provided for them at the plant of the California China Products Company. The numbers of works produced by Markham Pottery was not as great as some potteries; the company ceased production in 1921.
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 2543 x 1893
- File Size
- 641 KB
- Record
- 2007/1.97
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2007-sl-1.97/2007_1.97.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Square low vase; Markham Art Pottery." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2007-sl-1.97/2007_1.97.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 25, 2024.