Ken McDonald redware pottery creamer, 1946-54

This was a Goodwill find yesterday. Don't remember what I paid for it, so it was probably under $2. I have a lot of sugar and creamer sets, because I like the idea of the ceremony around using them. Maybe because I lived in Japan for 18 months? That being said, I never use them as I like my coffee and tea straight, but they can be beautiful art objects. Ken McDonald and his wife were apparently potters of note and are often described as Mid-Century potters. This creamer is 4.25" high x 3" long x 3.25" wide. It is a good sized creamer, probably made between 1946 and 1954.

From https://www.themarksproject.org/marks/mcdonald

Ken McDonald, Barbara Holden, Kennedy McDonald, J Kennedy McDonald
1921 Born Tennessee
1987 Died Florida

EDUCATION

1946-1949 Coursework, Chemistry, Mathematics, Electronics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

PRIMARY WORK EXPERIENCE

1941—Radio Man, United States Navy
1946-1954 Co-owner, Markus Ceramics, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
1954-1969 Co-owner, McDonald Pottery, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Kennedy McDonald is known for Kick wheel thrown functional pottery. Early work was slip molded. McDonald and his wife, Barbara McDonald, worked together at McDonald Pottery formerly Markus Ceramics. They used Ohio red ball clay and fired in a square electric kiln during their years as Markus Ceramics. During the McDonald Pottery years, they switched to stoneware and firing in a gas kiln. Glazes pallet included earth tones, opaque whites and blues.

Public Collections

Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville, North Carolina

Bibliography

Blim, Sherry L., “ The McDonald Pottery: Clay with a Voice.” Vase Finder, http://www.vasefinder.com/pw-members/articles/mcdonald.pottery.asp

Smith, Samuel D. and Stephen T. Rogers. Tennessee Potteries, Pots and Potters 1790s – 1950 Volume 1. Nashville, TN: Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, 2011.