Cowan Pottery and the Cleveland School

by Mark T. Bassett, Victoria Naumann

This detailed and fascinating text explores the twentieth century ceramic arts of R. Guy Cowan. Amply illustrated with over 1120 images in color and black and white, the book includes glaze and shape guides which assist the reader in identifying Cowan's pottery. Invaluable details are provided about Cowan's pottery and ceramic sculptural art, his professional history as a potter and a teacher, the various artists who worked closely with him and their pottery, the history of Cowan's potting firm, and his influence on the ceramic arts and upon Cleveland's artistic heritage. Additional information includes a study of Cowan's pottery marks and their dating, a 1929 price list of Cowan's pottery, museum holdings of interest to Cowan collectors, and a general price guide to Cowan pottery. An extensive bibliography and an index of proper names make the book invaluable for collectors and historians alike.

372 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am new to pottery and porcelain as art and am a very small 'kind of' collector. This book was an 'eye opener' for me. First of all, I was totally unaware that Cleveland was a major player in the pottery scene from about 1905 to 1930. Second, I did not know so many distinguished artists created things here. And, I was surprised to find that such a rich Asian heritage was at play. For example, Cowan focused on, among other things, vases designed for Ikebana. I also found the fact that Cowan and his associates diverted their efforts to things like containers for Lewisite and carbon filters for gas masks during World War I fascinating. The book also provides details on the people who supported Cowan and other artists. In addition, the book is a wonderful snapshot in time of a very significant creative period in Cleveland. If you are interested in pottery and porcelain, I highly recommend this book.

[David Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

An invaluable reference for anyone interested in the Cowan Pottery (1920-1931), the career of R. Guy Cowan or in ceramics generally.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive book about Cowan Pottery written by two experts in the field. Wonderful photos and a detailed history of the company best known for Viktor Schreckengost's jazz bowl designed for Eleanor Roosevelt.