Large porcelain ceramic table lamp features sculptural baluster form with prominent cylindrical foundation, slightly tapered and crowned with bell-like upper part, delineated with wide rim on the shoulder. The upper and lower parts of the lamp's body are decorated in sgraffito technique, but to a different effect: the lower, foundation part is decorated with extremely fine strokes, painting a highly detailed landscape with a lake surrounded by hills and trees, and the upper part is covered with abstract graphic pattern, reminiscent of Folk Art pottery, done in deep linear strokes. The difference in technique adds textural variation to the lamp that is emphasized by the choice of glazes; the abstract pattern is done in dark brown glaze on incised areas with the off-white porcelain left unglazed, and the landscape is carved over the matte espresso brown glaze, revealing the white porcelain underneath. The rim framing the upper and lower parts is decorated in semi-glossy chocolate brown glaze, adding yet more texture to a tactile, richly textured object. The tone-on-tone brown palette of the glazes is reminiscent of the natural colors seen in nature.
The lamp is signed in handwriting by the artist on the underside of the base. The lamp stands 22" to the top of the socket and 31" - to the top of the finial; it is in fully operational, very good original vintage condition. The lamp comes with the shade, as pictured, but can be shipped without the shade per customer request. We are offering a smaller accent table lamp with nature inspired sgraffito decor and a whimsically shaped porcelain teapot with similar landscape decor in separate listings; please see pictures for the whole grouping.
Sculptural, highly decorative table lamp with architecturally inspired form, high-quality artisanal craftsmanship, and statement piece presence will make a great gift to a collector or a design enthusiast and a perfect addition to a wide range of interiors, from Traditional to Mid Century Modern, Folk Art, Neo Deco, Eclectic, Transitional, Arts and Crafts, Organic Modern, Modern Heritage, English Cottage, Modern Country, Maximalist, Collected, or Contemporary.
Carol Snyder is an established American ceramic artist; she received her B.F.A in Ceramics from Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus Ohio, in 1985. Her work is inspired by nature, leaning into the patterns and textures of a landscape. Snyder work fuses her exquisite craftsmanship in the challenging medium of porcelain with an evocative abstraction of the elemental forms, expressing a sense of quiet, balance, and ties with the natural world, and moving beyond the perception of pottery as simple domestic objects.
Snyder has been accepted into prestigious juried art shows across the country, including the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D.C., Penrod Art Fair at the Indianapolis Art Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show. She has exhibited her work at multiple fine arts and invitational exhibitions nationwide, including the Canton Museum of Art and in a two-person exhibition at the Southern Ohio Museum. In 2017 Snyder was awarded a coveted Greater Columbus Arts Council Artist Residency in Dresden, Germany, allowing her to spend three months working the world-renowned Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Her work is represented by several art galleries nationwide and is included in permanent collections of the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio, Canton Museum of Art, Ohio, San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, Texas, and the Southern Ohio Museum, Portsmouth.
Artist Statement:
My work comes from the ceramic craft tradition of wheel-thrown vessels. While these forms often evoke a sense of comfort and familiarity through their history as functional objects, I believe the vessel holds an inherent beauty that extends beyond the domestic. In my practice, I emphasize this aesthetic of form alongside my interest in the patterns and textures of the landscape. I condense and abstract my experiences in nature to create pieces that are less representational. This reductive method allows each form to embody the memory of a journey and offer a contemplative moment for the viewer. Every piece is handmade, with all carvings and cutouts completed by hand. My work is not defined by a specific process or glaze; rather, it is an expression of quiet, balance, and a deep connection to the natural world.