David Morris MCM Pottery Teapot

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Mid-Century modern side-handled teapot (styled similarly to a traditional Japanese kyusu). The "LA PAZ" stamp on the bottom indicates this … Read more Mid-Century modern side-handled teapot (styled similarly to a traditional Japanese kyusu). The "LA PAZ" stamp on the bottom indicates this teapot is from La Paz Ceramics / La Paz Studio, founded by the highly acclaimed California potter David Morris (1911-1999) and his wife.
David Morris and his studio (originally operating in areas like Mill Valley, Sausalito, and Larkspur, California) were renowned among collectors specifically for their highly technical, deep, and complex glaze formulas. This rich, dark, glassy glaze with golden-brown/iron breaking elements mirrors a traditional Asian Tenmoku aesthetic, which was heavily popularized by California studio potters in the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Morris was adept at utilizing ancient Chinese glazes. In a Chronicle article, the late art critic Tom Albright singled him out for praise in the use of his "rich, lush glazes. "The hollow side handle is designed for one-handed pouring. The precision throwing and the clean lines of the lid layout exemplify the high level of execution that earned Morris's pottery representation in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution and other museums. See less