28. Carol Molly Prier, small pit-fired pot

28. Carol Molly Prier, small pit-fired pot

 

Carol Molly Prier lives in Inverness, California, north of San Francisco. She has been potting since the 1970s. In her mission statement, she writes, “Whether making a cup or bowl for everyday use or a one-of-a-kind burnished vessel, I am guided by three concepts: simplicity of form, evocation of memory and sense of ritual. The methods, the forms, and the rituals of cultures creating before me inform my work.” She finds inspiration in Native American pottery. She has taught and lectured widely and has had several exhibitions of her work. Her website contains more information on her work and experience (www.carolmollyprier.com).

According to an information sheet supplied with this pot, it was burnished with a smooth stone at four different times as the clay dried and then fired in an open pit with wood, cow dung, and seaweed, leading to variegated colors in black, gray, and dark red. 

White clay, colors from pit-firing. Weight: 248 g (9 oz); mouth diameter: 5 cm (2 in); base diameter: 3.3 (1-1/4); maximum diameter 10.5 cm (4-1/8 in). Height: 10 cm (4 in).

The base of the pot is flat. A small stamp with an abstract design was pressed into the base. The sides rise at a steep angle to a high shoulder 7 cm (2-3/4 in) above the base. The pot then slopes inward at a shallow angle to the mouth. The pot sits securely on the base, but the high center of gravity makes it a bit top-heavy.

The colors from the pit-firing range from a dark black through grays to a grayish cream. There are two splotches of dark red. The interior was unaffected by the smoke and fumes. The burnishing gives the exterior a smooth, glossy finish.

Purchased in 1993 at a crafts fair in Palo Alto, California, organized by the Association of Clay and Graphic Artists of California.