Wavy White Ceramic Vase by Dora De Larios

Details

Description

This hand-built ceramic vase by Dora De Larios exemplifies her refined approach to form and surface. The vessel departs from … Read more This hand-built ceramic vase by Dora De Larios exemplifies her refined approach to form and surface. The vessel departs from traditional cylindrical symmetry, instead adopting a sculptural silhouette with softly undulating edges that echo organic contours. Across its broad surface, a series of incised wavy lines flows in rhythmic sequence, creating a tactile field that evokes the movement of water, wind, or energy across space.

Rendered in a matte white finish, the vase emphasizes purity of form and the interplay between light and shadow. A minor superficial crack on the bottom right adds a note of imperfection that underscores the handmade quality of the piece, enhancing its character and charm.


About the Artist
Dora De Larios was an American ceramist and sculptor renowned for her ability to blend modern design with pan-cultural spiritual traditions. Raised in Los Angeles in a Mexican and Japanese immigrant neighborhood, she drew lifelong inspiration from pre-Columbian and Japanese ceramic traditions. A graduate of USC, she studied under Otto and Vivika Heino and Susan Peterson, and her career spanned both intimate studio practice and monumental public commissions—including large-scale tile murals and sculptural works.
De Larios often spoke of ceramics as a healing medium, and her work consistently explored mythological archetypes, the natural world, and humanity’s relationship with the sacred. Her oeuvre bridges the functional and the symbolic, situating her among the most significant figures in California’s postwar ceramics movement.


Context and Legacy
This vase illustrates De Larios’s ability to transform utility into art. Its flowing lines and sculptural silhouette connect the vessel to elemental forces, while its minimal palette underscores her interest in universality and timelessness. It belongs to a broader body of work in which De Larios redefined ceramics as a vehicle for both daily use and contemplative experience.

Collector’s Note
Elegant in its restraint yet dynamic in form, this vase epitomizes Dora De Larios’s unique fusion of modern design and mythic sensibility. Its sculptural presence and tactile surface ensure it remains a versatile acquisition—equally resonant as a functional vessel or a standalone art object. See less