Royal Hickman Terrace Ware Patio Vase by the Russell Potteries

in between his better-known works, he produced a number of lesser-known lines, including one called "Terraceware" for the Russell Potteries of Paris, Tennessee. The line was specifically designed for the patios and back yards of the Modern era. There are few specifics available, but we know that the pieces in this line were big -19 to 26 inches high- and included both traditional and Modernist designs,

Design-wise, the baluster shape of this piece is fairly traditional, with the exception of the ruffled rim. The glaze is the truly exciting thing. While Hickman's shapes are excellent Modernist, what most people miss are the remarkable glazes Hickman demanded for his pieces which are frequently made of up several different glazes, which in combination produced the foamy funky surfaces of his wares. In this case, the glaze is mottled purple at its base, with highlights of blue, lilac, white and cream.

I've not been able to dig up a lot about the Russell Pottery, but based on the piece at hand the work they did was not much different than the what we are used to seeing from potteries in North Carolina.

The vase is 20.5" tall, 7" in diameter at the foot, 5.875" in diameter at the mouth and about 7" in diameter at its widest.

Condition: No wear or damage. The vase is very slightly crazed in the light-colored glaze at the neck but otherwise fine. There are three or four large glaze pops scattered over the piece (as illustrated), a lot of smaller pops (to be expected due to the glaze) and a lump of undissolved glaze or clay on the neck.

Mark: printed mark on the bottom: "Royal Hickman's Terrace Ware Made by the Russell Potteries of Paris, Tennessee."

Item ID: 2873