Featured Catalina Pottery Amphora by Gladding McBean; Pre-1942

It is a source of amazement to me that this has survived ~80 years unbroken. When I got it in the mid 90's, I spent quite a few minutes looking to be certain there were no repairs. Since acquisition it has enjoyed a secure position in a case, protected against injury.

A recent thread about a carved Vernon oval vase got into what color it was; 'white' was perhaps not so much dead-white or appliance white, but a yellowish shade. I thought of this example of that color: it looks like the cream that wasn't homogenized, floating atop the quarts of milk the Arden milkman brought right into our kitchen in the 50's, with plenty of butterfat to shade it to that subtle, delicious off-white. This one isn't glossy, but a very slight satin finish, sweet in my fingers.
It is ~5 3/4" tall, ~4" diameter.

That's my excuse for this post...that, an' the joy of getting it out, fondling it for a moment, an' showing it to y'all!

 

so simple...so elegant...lovely symmetry ....no wasted movement.....

 

Delicate,superb design.

 

And SWEET!

 

That's a beautiful design. Lovely vase.

 

My mom had a couple pieces of Catalina and I know what it feels like in hand. It's almost warm, almost enough to be alive. Very "organic" shapes, simple, lovely. Congrats, that is a beautiful example!

Linda

 

Thank you, Linda...very much!

 

I have sold Catalina pottery over the years and it was indeed the simple design and the warmth that drew me to the piece in the thrift store or flea market.

 

So beautiful! And you've described it so well that I can almost feel it.

 

Thanks, Fig...High praise from you!