214. Andrew Sartorius, Sculptural Vessel 2, “Ala Ancha,” 2023
For Sartorius, see item no. 143.
Wild clay from West Virginia, colors in the reddish brown, black and gray ranges, with some ash glazing on the back side. Weight: 3.25 kg (7.1 lb). Height (overall): 24.5 cm (9-3/4 in). Length (overall): 29.2 cm (11-1/2 in).
This consists of three parts: the main body; the neck, and the bell (rim, mouth). The piece sits on a flat base, oval in shape, 12 x 17 cm (4-3/4 x 6-3/4 in), located under the center of the main body of the piece. The wadding used during the firing process is visible is three grayer areas on the base. The front side of the main body (that shown in the first two pictures) has two globular bodies with a seam between them; the back side is a continuous arc. The artist’s mark was impressed into the clay at the lower edge of the right-hand side. The main body is 20 cm (8 in) long and 15.8 cm (6-1/4 in) high. The neck juts off to the right side of the main body, rising at about a 60-degree angle. The walls of the neck bow outward slightly toward the center. There is a pronounced seam where the neck joins the main body and again at the bell. The rim of the bell flares outward from the neck in a straightish line. It is roughly football shaped and is 10.7 x 22.7 cm (5-1/2 x 9 in). The bell angles upward; the lower end jutting out to the right of the piece is 14.4 cm (5-7/8 in) above the base; the upper end is 24.5 cm (9-3/4 in) above the base. The mouth mirrors the shape of the rim. It is offset slightly toward the rear of the bell and is 5 x 9.5 cm (2 x 3-3/4 in) in dimension. The surface of this is smooth over the redder surfaces and slightly rough over the ash-glazed areas. The weight and balance of the piece are very much toward the base.
This was wood-fired over four days in the center of an anagama kiln. The front and base of this are a rich reddish brown. The back side and the interior of the bell have melted ash deposits..Some of the ash glaze ran down in streaks.
The name “Ala Ancha” is a Spanish idiom for a wide-brimmed hat.
An astonishing piece. The Sculptural Vessel series continues to explore Sartorius’s interest in the interactions of clay, shape, and firing process. The piece feels much more open and outgoing than the other pieces by Sartorius that I have. The two other pieces in the series are similar in having globular, swollen shapes.
