Vintage Hand-Built Black Stoneware Slab Pair “Trays” – Signed Studio Pottery, California Modernist, C. 1960s–1980s

Details

Description

Striking pair of hand-built studio pottery “trays,” formed from dense, iron-rich black stoneware in expressive, organic shapes. Each piece shows … Read more Striking pair of hand-built studio pottery “trays,” formed from dense, iron-rich black stoneware in expressive, organic shapes. Each piece shows the hand and spirit of the maker — softly irregular edges, tactile surfaces, and visible craftsmanship — hallmarks of mid-century California studio ceramics.

The deep charcoal clay body carries a smoke-kissed, metallic sheen, achieved through reduction or raku-style firing, giving these works a moody, modern presence. The borders are hand-impressed with a repeating pattern, adding rhythmic texture and quiet sophistication. The undersides are incised with individual artist’s codes (“11A” and “3A”) and a directional mark resembling an abstract “K” — identifiers typical of small-batch or installation-based studio work.

Acquired in Southern California, this pair reflects the region’s postwar clay movement (1950s–1980s), when artists like Peter Voulkos and John Mason blurred the line between art and function. Whether appreciated as tabletop sculpture, decorative trays, or wall-mounted ceramics, these pieces embody an organic modernist aesthetic that remains timeless and highly collectible. Small tray measures 11 inches diameter at widest point and large tray measures 15 inches at widest point.

⸻

Details
• Origin: Southern California, USA
• Period: Estimated 1960s–1980s
• Medium: Iron-rich stoneware; reduction-fired / possible raku process
• Color: Deep charcoal black with natural metallic undertones
• Technique: Hand-built, slab-formed, with impressed edge pattern
• Marks: Incised “11A” and “3A” with abstract directional “K”-type mark
• Dimensions:
• Larger slab: approx. 15 inches at widest point
• Smaller slab: approx. 11 inches at widest point.
• Both roughly 1″ thick
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition with light surface variations and natural imperfections consistent with handmade, mid-century clay. No cracks or repairs. Unrestored, as acquired.

⸻

Suggested Use
• Display as sculptural ceramic art on a console or open shelf
• Style as decorative trays for books, candles, or found objects
• Perfect for collectors of California studio pottery, modernist ceramics, or wabi-sabi décor

⸻

Keywords / Tags

Studio Pottery, California Ceramic Art, Modernist Pottery, Raku, Stoneware Slab Pair, Organic Modern, Mid-Century Ceramic, Hand-Built Clay, Wabi-Sabi, Black Pottery, Ceramic Sculpture, Brutalist Ceramic, Abstract Pottery, Vintage Studio Ceramics, 1960s–1980s Clay Art See less