41. Mark Bell, small three-sided cup

 41.  Mark Bell, small three-sided cup 

Bell’s studio is in Blue Hill, Maine, west of Ellsworth. He works with porcelain clay and produces many small, very evenly glazed pieces. His website can be found at www.markbellpottery.com.

White porcelain clay, blue and black glazes; base left unglazed. Weight: 124 g (4.5 oz). Width across rim (one leg of triangle): 5.3 cm (2-1/8 in); maximum width: 6.2 cm (2-1/2 in): base width (one leg of triangle); 2.5 cm (1 in). Height: 7.5 cm (3 in).

This sits directly on the base, which is flat and triangular in shape. “Ball” was incised into the bottom. From this narrow base, the cup curves upward to the maximum width, which is about 3.8 cm (1-1/2 in) above the base. It then curves inward slightly to the rim. The lines where the three sides join are fairly pronounced but more sensible to the touch than the eye. The cup is well-balanced and sits solidly on the base.

Both interior and exterior were glazed in a solid, even black. The upper part of each side has a rough triangular patch of blue; many black spots show through the blue.  The base was left unglazed.

Purchased at the artist’s studio in Blue Hill, Maine, October 2017.