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Accession #	44.31.2
Maker	Charles Volkmar
Title	Vase
Date	ca. 1881
Medium	Earthenware
Dimensions	Height: 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.); Diameter of base: 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.)
Credit Line	Gift of Leon Volkmar
Location	Visible Storage: Case 36, Shelf H (Ceramics)
Description	One of pair (with 44.31.3) of red earthenware vases decorated with underglaze slip painting. Slip was made of ground porcelain acquired from the Union Porcelain Co. Vase has a pastoral view of cows and trees on one side; the other side mottled in blue and brown, two vertical handles.

Curatorial Remarks: After training as a painter with his father, Charles Volkmar continued his studies in France. There he became fascinated with the effects of painting on ceramics, in particular the dense, brilliant colors achieved by the kilns in Limoges.

Following his return to New York around 1878, Volkmar opened his own pottery in Greenpoint and began making French-style wares (such as the vases shown here) similar to those produced at FMCo before the arrival of Edward Lycett. Volkmar is an early example of a studio potter who, rather than establishing a large factory, created one-of-a-kind handmade art pottery.