Acquisitions from A to Z

October 09, 2001 - February 28, 2002

If it is true that museums are judged by their collections, then the caliber of recent gifts in the past years (and purchases) is a testimony to our bright future as we celebrate our Tenth Anniversary this Spring. With strong growth in 20th century American ceramics, international flavor has not been neglected with major gifts of ceramics created in Africa, China, France, Japan, and the Scandinavian countries. While there are just too many outstanding gifts to list and illustrate here, the majority of gifts received since July 1998 will be featured in our Fall/Winter exhibition titled Acquisitions from A to Z, on view October 4, 2001 to February 28, 2002. The public opening reception on Thursday, October 18th, 2001, will coincide with Paul Greenhalgh's presentation as the 4th annual Dorothy Wilson Perkins lecturer.

Wilhelm Kage (designer), Swedish, 1889-1960, manufactured by Gustavsberg Factory, ca. 1917-1960, porcelain, glazed, silver, H: 1-3/4" (4.5 cm) Diameter: 11-1/2" (29.2 cm), gift of William Pitney, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 2000.57. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Pair of Chinese Song Dynasty Yingqing Funerary Jars, 11th-12th century, stoneware, glazed, H: 30" (76.2 cm) D: 6-3/4" (17.2 cm), gift of Fong Chow, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 1999.83 and 1999.84. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Georges Roualt, French, 1871-1958, STANDING FEMALE NUDE, 1908, stoneware, oil paint, H: 25-3/8" (64.4 cm) W: 11-1/4" (28.6 cm) D: 1-5/8" (4.2 cm), gift of The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 2000.7. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Kitaoji Rosanjin, Japanese, 1883-1959, dish, 20th century, stoneware, glaze and china paint, H: 1-3/8" (3.5 cm) W: 7-1/2" (19 cm) D: 3-3/8" (8.5 cm), gift of Fong Chow, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 1999.88. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Cindy Sherman, American, 20th century, MADAME DE POMPADOUR (nee Poisson), 21 piece tea/breakfast service, 1990, porcelain, glazed, H: 8" (20.3 cm) W: 7-1/2" (19 cm), D: 4-3/4" (12 cm), (teapot), museum purchase, Corsaw Collection, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 2000.127-141. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Peter Voulkos, American, born 1924, bucket-shaped sculpture, 1998, stoneware, wood-fired, H: 13" (33 cm) W: 25"(63.5 cm) D: 22" (55.9 cm), gift of the artist, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 2000.142. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Gertrud Vasegaard (designer), Danish, born 1913, manufactured by Bing & Grondahl, tea set, 1956, porcelain, glazed, H: 8-1/2" (21.6 cm) W: 6-1/8" (15.6 cm) D: 4-3/4"(12.1 cm), (teapot), gift of William Pitney, Schein International Museum of Ceramic Art, 2000.81-87. Photo by Brian Oglesbee.

Recent gifts have included, literally, an A to Z of ceramics. "A" could stand for Ackerman, Acoma, African, or American Belleek; "B" for Binns, Blenko, Bogatay, Bonnet, or bricks; "C" for Corsaw, Cowan or Cushing; "E" for Earl; "F" for Fetzer or Frith; "G" for Glidden; "H" for Hamada, Homer Laughlin, Huey or Hui; "I" for Israel; "K" for Kawai, Kenji, Klein/Reid or Koblitz; "L" for Laguna, Lax, Leach, Leedy, Lewis, or Little; "M" for MacKenzie, Martinez, Mathieu, McKenzie-Childs, McKinley or Millette; "N" for Nampeyo, Native American, Natzler, Newcomb Pottery, or Nigerian; "Q" is for Qingbai Ware; "R" for Riegger, Rhodes, Roualt, or Rosanjin; "S" for Schreckengost, Sevre, Shaner, Shuji, Soldner,Staffel, or Staffordshire; "T" for Tafoya or Ting Ware; "V" for Voulkos; all the way to "Z" for Zeisel.

"C" could also stand for the Chinese ceramics donated by Fong Chow, including the stunning pair of Song dynasty temple jars (illustrated), along with the Rosanjin tray decorated with autumn leaves (illustrated).

Additionally under the "S" category, Bill Pitney donated a large group of Scandinavian ceramics, a collection which he began when he was first interested in Scandinavian design and in 1966 went on sabbatical to Stockholm and traveled extensively. Two examples from that gift are illustrated.

Illustrated also is a stunning Georges Roualt tile created in 1906 -- generously donated by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation. Peter Voulkos donated two woodfired stoneware pieces he made in Alfred in October 1998 (illustrated). The Hamada vase featured on the cover of this issue is thought to be one of the only overglazed painted enamel pieces in North America and is a promised gift to the Museum from Susan Peterson.

Museum purchases include, from the Roger D. Corsaw Fund, a Karen Koblitz vessel titled My Obsession Series #1, and a Cindy Sherman tea set (illustrated). Also purchased was the Jack Earl sculpture, Ritzy Fritz from his exhibition in Alfred, and an Eddie Dominguez grouping of dinnerware disguised as a botanical scene.

A major gift has been received from Dr. Robert Tichane during the past two years in the form of a fund established to acquire research library books for the Museum-all in memory of his sister Rusla Tichane Breyer.

It would take a book to acknowledge all of the other splendid gifts received by the Museum in recent years. Come visit our exhibition in October 2001, and celebrate these A to Z of ceramics recent acquisitions.