202. Andrew Sartorius, Firebox Sculpture no. 13, “Skin Changer”

202. Andrew Sartorius, Firebox Sculpture no. 13, “Skin Changer”

For Sartorius, see item 143. 

Wild West Virginia clay, wood-fired, with colors in the gray to black range and a dark reddish brown. Weight: 874 g (1.9 lb). Height: 8.8 cm (3-1/2 in). Length: 18 cm (7-1/8 in). Width: 9.5 cm (3-3/4 in).

This sits on a flat oval-shaped base 7.6 x 4.8 cm (3 x 1-7/8 in), roughly in the center of the bottom. The bottom sides curves upwards to the two end sides. The artist’s mark was impressed into the clay to one side of the flat base. Each side of the sculpture is contoured in many different directions. Some of the sides meet at sharp edges; other move smoothly into each other. The opening is roughly triangular and sits on a separate, small, four-sided plane of the sculpture.  The surface of this is rough and pitted from the ash deposits during the wood-firing.

This was fired toward the back of an anagama kiln for four days. According to a note from Sartorius: “I thought the quieter presence of ash and larger surface area of West Virginia clay color would really suit the piece and I am thrilled with the finished product.”

This is a spectacular piece. The contours are amazing, as are the effects wrought by the contrasts in how the various surfaces meet. The firing added subtle gradations of color and impact from the heat and ash flows.

Purchased from the artist in November 2022.