Terra Sigillatta Bell
Betty Woodman
Decorative Arts and Design
Betty Woodman, the doyenne of American studio ceramics, has had a keen interest in the art of antiquity and other cultures since the beginning of her career in the 1950s. Here she has transposed the form of an ancient Japanese ceremonial bronze bell known as the dotaku into terra-cotta and then covered the handbuilt bell with a lustrous glaze, terra sigillata, inspired by ancient Roman redware.
MEDIUM
Glazed earthenware
DATES
1975
DIMENSIONS
24 1/2 x 16 1/4 x 13 1/4 in. (62.2 x 41.3 x 33.7 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
impressed on outer lower rim: "WOODMAN"
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
2009.79
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Charles Woodman and Andrea Torrice
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Tall, thick walled, cylindrical shape, inspired by early Japanese bell-shaped ritual object, with faceted sides, raised on a flattened, stepped base, lower third appears thrown; tapers toward top, flat attached lid with flared lip. Decoration at top composed of two identical arched pieces, flattened and abstracted, thick walled and irregular shaped with symmetrically applied lugs. Two irregular, thick walled shaped wings at sides composed of two joined pieces, with lugs to top. Overall, irregular matt finish.
Condition: Very Good, three small irregularities on body.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Betty Woodman (American, 1930–2018). Terra Sigillatta Bell, 1975. Glazed earthenware, 24 1/2 x 16 1/4 x 13 1/4 in. (62.2 x 41.3 x 33.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Charles Woodman and Andrea Torrice, 2009.79. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: , 2009.79_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 2009.79_PS9.jpg., 2019
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
© Woodman Family Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
© Betty Woodman
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