ars longa * 07-036. Gordon Martz MS75-30-6 Small tumbler.

07-036.	< previous item · september 2007 archives · next item >

07-036. Gordon Martz
MS75-30-6 Small tumbler
Marshall Studios
USA, c. 1960
2.5 x 2.5 x 2.75"
Glazed ceramic
Hand signed

There is a small midcentury modern store here in town that offers a very good selection of Marshall Studios pottery. Every time I visit I find myself hovering around those shelves, attracted to the pottery not unlike a moth to a lightbulb. More often than not, I'm most captivated by Gordon Martz's little tumblers. They're the perfect size for my hand, and are a fantastic minimal shape. I'm also most often drawn in by the sgrafitto decorations, where a wax resist is used to draw on a design before the piece is glazed, leaving a hand drawn pattern after the piece is fired.

The little cup I found today perfectly fits my preferences in Martz pottery. Better yet, I found it at a small church-run thrift shop where I often feel like there could be something of interest just waiting for me, but before today has not gotten any of my money. I find these little volunteer run shops offer the best thrifting experiences. The first tie I visited this particular store, an employee spent 15 minutes giving me directions to the other shops in town. They didn't need to do so, but I was very thankful that they did. Because of that, I was happy today to spend a few dollars there, and hope I'll be able to do so again sometime soon.

Found on September 01, 2007 in Bloomington, IL.

Craig said: There's a nunnery here in Indianapolis where a church I used to attend had mid-week meetings - it was filled with Marshall Studios lamps and tables! Much of their sales in the later years (late 60's, 70's and 80's) shifted from department stores to institutional sales. Needless to say, I hit the church sales and university auctions frequently.The Purdue surplus sale sells a lot of lamps.
9.10.07WEBSITE

Make a comment on this item: