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Lot 20Set of 4 Schwenk mugs, NaramataSet of 4 mugs with handles. Tourquiose and black glaze depicts a repeating sylized branch motif. 3.75" tall x 3.25" in diameter at the rim.
Condition: One of the mugs has 3 chips in the rim, (see photos).
In the late 1950s, orchardists Adolf and Louise Schwenk faced financial hardship when a late-winter cold snap devastated their cherry crop. Searching for a new source of income, Louise attended a pottery class taught by travelling instructor Reg Dixon, who spent his summers driving throughout British Columbia with clay and a wheel in his station wagon, offering lessons wherever there was interest. Louise proved to be a natural potter and quickly developed a passion for the medium.
The following year, Louise and Adolf - already an accomplished painter - attended the Vancouver School of Art. Returning to their log cabin at the base of Munson Mountain near Penticton, they established a pottery using local clay. Their partnership was a natural one: Louise threw the forms while Adolf applied his artistic talents to their decoration. Together they built a successful studio practice, producing distinctive work that was exhibited across Canada.
In 1966, the couple was awarded a Canada Council grant for a year of study in Europe. Tragically, while visiting the Leach Pottery in England, Louise died suddenly, bringing their promising collaboration to an abrupt end. Although their pottery career lasted only a decade, the Schwenks produced an impressive body of work that remains highly regarded. One cannot help but wonder how their art might have evolved had they been able to complete their European studies.
Estimate$200 - $250
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$100
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