Posted 9 years ago
bluestones…
(8 items)
I purchased this piece at a local flea market, and am having trouble identifying the maker. It appears to be Native American, and is glazed inside as well. Any ideas? The signature looks to be a composition of the letters K and S.
If turned, remember that Amer. Indians didn't have potters wheels back "when".
I don't believe it has been turned. It appears to be a coil design. I can see the coils beneath the glaze.
What else can you tell me?
Thanks much!
Kat
This is not my field, but we see a lot of things on CW presented as old original Native Amer. pottery that has been turned. They never invented the wheel & so the turned early pottery industry didn't come about until the tourist industry. The figures appear early, but you need to consult an expert who can do a hands on appraisal. Bon chance!
This is contemporary studio pottery, "influenced or inspired by" perhaps a vaguely Southwest or tribal arts look, but in no way can it be called Native American.
As already pointed out, it was thrown (or "turned") and trimmed on a potter's wheel, glazed, and fired in a kiln. None of which is done in traditional Native American pottery. What looks like "coils" is actually the rings left when the pot was thrown on the potter's wheel. Some potters smooth them out, others leave them for a more "arty" look.
Without seeing the signature, or how it's made (stamped, incised, brushed on with iron oxide?) it's not much help in identifying who made this. Unless someone recognizes the style and work itself, studio pottery is usually impossible to identify, and really doesn't make much difference anyway, except in the rare case of a well-known artist. Resale value is based on its decorative value only.
I just added a pic of the incised signature/initials. I also included another pic of the top. Looking inside the top it does appear to be wheel thrown. This pot is quite dirty, and I'm not sure how to clean it. It has dark dirt scuff marks on it.
I thought I had found the incised figures of the masks with antlers information. It's a long shot, but the legend of the Windigo, or Wendigo seems to look like this. Maybe the cougar is a guardian, as the Windigo is the Native Americans version of a zombie? I know this sounds wild. Any input?
It's best, when attempting to identify an item, to start with the item itself...not with a preconceived idea of what it "may" be, and then trying to prove it. You will run into all sorts of wrong turns and inevitably end up with a misidentification. This is not Native American, it is contemporary studio pottery.
As I said, it may have been influenced or inspired by Native American art or even stories or legends...but the pot is not Native American. So unless you can get into the mind of the artist (pretty difficult, since you don't even know who it is), going down the path suggested is, indeed, "wild," to put it mildly.
I agree with you Canyon! Whatever you said. Joking. You are right. Assuming & then trying to prove with misconceived ideas is something that only my girlfriends seem to get away with. LOL! Actually, it's true and not funny at all.
Oooh, THANK YOU CanyonRoad ;-)