Posted 10 years ago
mikelv85
(1230 items)
I thought it was time to put my Lois Van Vleet collection together for a group shot. All I know about her is that she is a southern Ohio potter. I found number five yesterday. It's the little yellow one. The first one I bought was the grey and brown piece on the slab. However it's not dated like the others but it is signed. I think it's probably the earliest one though. The rest are from 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2006. I can't really say which one is my favorite. The all have something unique about them. I love the large olive bottle with it's formed spout for it's design. The little lavender and white bottle reminds me of frosting on a cookie. It's just fun to pick up and hold. A very tactile piece. The large flared vase has a beautiful turquoise interior. I love the shape and multiple glazes on the yellow one. Then there's the one on the slab...well it's just funky. I call it the "cow" vase because of the brown spots...lol. Ohio is home to many of the great pottery companies so it's not unusual to find a lot of studio pieces. So when Lois's pieces turn up I always buy them. -Mike-
Lovely pieces and a good investment too.
Regards William
Thank you William :)
Number 5 is my personal favourite.
I'd have to agree, but then the newest acquisition is always my favorite until the next piece comes along.
A nice collection all different shapes , love the small colourful one!
Clearly a Lois Van Vleet collector now! Great group.
Have you had any contact with her?
I really haven't been able to find out much about her or if she is even still alive. The name comes up in searches but I'm never certain it's her. My though is she is probably quite old. The info I do know came from an Ebay auction last year. Now when I search it only shows my posts here on CW...lol. -Mike-
Just stumbled on this and if you are still interested ...yes, she is still alive, 76 years old, lives in Ohio.
I have a great many of her pots, purchased all at one time when I visited her home. A friend told me that Lois would occasionally have yard/garage sale of her pots. This was many years ago. Well, instead, I contacted her and made arrangements to visit. She came to the door for a moment, disappeared, then her garage door lifted...revealing her and a garage floor covered in pottery. These were her rejects, imperfect pots for one reason or another, some visible, some not.
A good thing I brought a friend along because we filled the car with her pottery. It was shameful what we purchased all those pots for. She even gave me a broken pot or two which still live on in the garden.
The person who initially told me about Lois bought her imperfections only to resell and so, it is some of those you may have.
They are quite beautiful and other than a very large which I recently gifted to someone, I still them all. I can see she was very fond of certain shapes as a few that I have, resemble yours in that way.
Enjoy !
Thanks for all the wonderful info Nikki. I've acquired three or four more pieces since I posted this two years ago. They just seem to show up in the Cleveland area Goodwill and Volunteer's of America. So someone has been donating them to the thrift stores as well. They are usually priced reasonably as no one really knows who she is. I think they're great myself. I'd have a hard time choosing from a garage full. You are so lucky ! :) -Mike-
You never know, Mike ... She may be one of if not the person doing the donating. She told me when I visited that she had a house full, but she wouldn't let me see. I did call her once after that asking if she had any more pieces done with her beautiful blue. The first thing she asked me was if I was that person coming around all the time wanting the dollar pots. I said no and knew who she was referring to (the person buying them for resale).
No more blue...just as well because I have enough. I've never come across any while out thrifting, but then again, I only thrift locally. She has/had a kiln and all at home, but I remember her telling me she still would do pottery at the Cleveland Institute of Art. ...many may also be as a result of there/people around there.
Interesting all this because I've never really searched her. I did so today because I got an email about a gallery showing for a paper/also pottery artist. When at looked at his work, I saw a pot that has the same colors as a pot (looks more like a bottle) that I have done by Lois. I've used this pot twice in my own art and a couple of others too (watercolor and/or collage). ...color and form, touch too, so inspiring.
Nikki
Wow I was bored at work today so I googled my mom's name and this page was one of the results! I'm so happy that so many people are enjoying her pottery. I've always found it to be so fun and creative! She passed away last November but lived a full life with all those years of art classes (including painting and papermaking) and travel. I sold all the remaining pottery and artwork to a neighbor of hers- she suggested that before she passed away- who has a store in some town west of Cleveland, I think, can't remember the name of the town, but that was in January this year so everything is probably gone from there by now. She would not have sold her pottery to a thrift store as far as I know, always just garage sales. Some of those wonderful glazes (or most of them?) came from CIA, which had an amazing variety of glazes. She really enjoyed making the pottery and I know she would be thrilled that others liked it as much as she did!
How nice to hear from you gehryfran . So sorry to hear about your Mom's passing. I've always loved art pottery and living in Ohio (art pottery central) there is a lot of it. I've acquired a few more pieces by your Mom since I posted this 3 years ago. Now I have a collection of about 10 or so. They just seem to turn up every now and then at the thrifts. It's gotten to the point where I just recognize her work as soon as I see it. The unique shapes and colors are unmistakable. As you can see in the comments above I talked with the person that probably bought most of your mother's work. It would have been amazing to choose from a garage full of her work believe me. What a thrill that must have been ! I still keep a look out when thrift shopping, I think they filter down from others collections or just get donated after family estate sales. So glad you saw my post and left this wonderful comment. It's a tribute to your Mom's talent. -Mike- :)