Journey to 21st Century Ceramics
• Europe
– Ancient: pinch, coil, pit
– Mediterranean Inf.:
• America
• -- Native American
• -- European
Terracotta, terrasigillata,
shapes, techniques, trade
practices
-- Oriental Influences
-- Middle Eastern
Early– small, “blue-bird potters”
first earthenware, then stonewar
Later – industrial model
Rise of Studio Potter
• -- Asian
Majolica, lusters, arabesque
-- Industrial Revolution
-- Rise of Studio Potter
Mingei
*
-- Innovative, antiestablishment
• Recurring Theme:
• How do ceramic ideas spread?
Significant Influences
• Trade
• Changing World Views
• Greater Exchange of Ideas
• People
• World Wars
• Communication, Industrial Advances
• Economy / Rise in Middle Class / More Money
• Increasing Education
• Availability of Books
• Availability and Desire to Travel
What is majolica?
• Majolica is the most significant ceramic
process from the 13thc -20thc
• It is a shiny, opaque, white, tin-lead glaze with
colorful overglaze decorations.
• It is believed it was invented by the Persians
as a substitute for Chinese porcelain.
Maiolica, Majolica, Mailloica
Bernard Palissy, 16thc
Italian Renaissance
The quest for Porcelain
• The spread of majolica was fueled by the
demand for cheaper porcelain objects.
• The rise of the middle class was satisfied
with the color, whimsy, and accessibility of
majolica. It became an entity unto itself.
• Real porcelain, and growing numbers of
people who could afford porcelain would
not be denied. It took centuries but
eventually real porcelain was achieved.
Saltfired Glaze
Industrial Revolution & Rise of
Studio Potter
Significant Modern Influences
• Changing World Views
• Greater Exchange of Ideas
• People
• World Wars
• Communication, Industrial Advances
• Economy / Rise in Middle Class / More Money
• Increasing Education
• Availability of Books/ Mass Media
• Availability and Desire to Travel
People Who Influenced Modern Ceramics
IDEA: Mingei
• Folk Art must be preserved because it is a
record of cultural tradition. It preserves a
pre-Industrial revolution way of life.
• More importantly, it is worth saving
because folk art is vital, useful, beautiful…
• Mingei Aesthetic – simple, vigorous,
intuitive, unpretentious, attributes
Bernard Leach
fusion of Asian and European Traditions
Shoji Hamada
Cross-over Artists
Who Influenced Modern Ceramics
Rudi Autio
Peter Voulkos
Peter Voulkos
Peter Voulkos
Peter Voulkos
Abstract Expressionist
• Emphasizes an artist’s liberty to
convey attitudes, emotions, reveal
inner psyche through non-traditional
and usually non-representational
means.
• Affiliations: Zen Buddhism, beatniks
• Attitude: Intuitive, passionate, go with
the flow…
Cross-over Artists
Who Influenced Modern Ceramics
Leoncillo Leonardi
Cross-over Artists
Who Influenced Modern Ceramics
Lucio Fontana
IDEA: Bauhaus
• German design approach had extensive
influence on Europeans.
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Mainly architectural and industrial
Form follows function.
FORMal approach. Austere, geometric.
Minimal decoration.
• Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Ruth Duckworth,
• Margaret Wildenhain