Vase / Markham Art Pottery

About this Item

Record Details

Accession Number

2007/1.99

Title

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)

Credit Line

Gift of Dr. and Mrs. E. Thurston Thieme, from the collection of Professor and Mrs. Hugo Paul Thieme, March 26, 2007

Dimensions

15.6 cm x 10.4 cm x 10.4 cm (6 1/8 in. x 4 1/8 in. x 4 1/8 in.)

Century

20th century

Primary Object Classification

Ceramic

Primary Object Type

vase

Physical Description

This brown vase has a raised design on the surface. The vessel has a fairly wide mouth and gently swelling shape.

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.

Primary Keywords

vase

vessel

Secondary Keywords

containers

containers by form

objects we use

vessels

Rights

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Technical Details

Collection

University of Michigan Museum of Art

Image Size

2012 x 2508

File Size

672 KB

Record

2007/1.99

Link to this Item

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2007-sl-1.99/2007_1.99.jpg content_copy