Circa 1980 Ken Edwards Collection “Open Winged Bird” High-Fired Pottery, Tonalá, Mexico

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Description

Excellent Pre-Owned Condition.

Ken Edwards, the pottery artist, introduced alta-temperature (high-fired) pottery or stoneware, which originated in Asia, to Tonalá … Read more Excellent Pre-Owned Condition.

Ken Edwards, the pottery artist, introduced alta-temperature (high-fired) pottery or stoneware, which originated in Asia, to Tonalá in the late 1960s. Because stoneware pieces are fired at temperatures of 2,200 ℉ or higher, the glaze and the clay integrate to form a vitrified nonporous surface. He and Jorge Wilmot, another pottery artist from Mexico, installed the first stoneware kiln in Tonalá. Tonalá is a city and municipality within the Guadalajara metropolitan area in the state of Jalisco in Mexico. Tonalá has a rich 3,000-year long history of being one of Mexico’s prolific producers of pottery due to the type of clay/soil found in the region. Eleven different types of pottery techniques or styles are practiced there. This gorgeous open winged bird was handcrafted in the Ken Edwards’ pottery sometime in the 1980s. It is an alta-temperature (stoneware) pottery piece done in a matte finish. Though Ken Edwards sold the pottery in the 1990s and moved to Guatemala (he passed away in 2022), his namesake pottery is still producing pottery today by the new owners. From what I understand, this same profile bird was made by the pottery’s new owners for a time but with much more ornamentation and with a high gloss glaze finish. So, to differentiate older from newer just look closely at the ornamentation and glaze. This beauty measures 13½” x 8½” x 5½” W/D/H; weight 1 lb. 15 oz. Hand painted with a medley of rich hues that include burnished brown, smoky teal, royal blue on a milky white background; no two pieces will ever be alike. In excellent condition with minimal, if any, wear. There are random glaze pops that occurred during firing (when air bubbles reached the surface of the glaze and burst) underneath the wings and two firing pin marks, one on each wing (see photo 11) that in no way affect its beauty or integrity; makers mark located under the left wing. For a Ken Edwards collector, this gorgeous piece should be a must have or the perfect gift for someone who is.

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