Glazed Clay Bowl 1935 - 1942

Clyde L. Cheney made this glazed clay bowl, or rather, made this image of a glazed clay bowl, sometime between 1855 and 1995. The colors are earthy and straightforward, just like the craft itself. It’s interesting how the glaze bunches up and thickens along the rim; you can almost feel the artist turning the bowl in their hands. It’s this subtle touch, this mark of the hand, that brings the object to life. The inside of the bowl is a deep, dark pool – who knows what secrets it holds? The unevenness of the bowl is echoed by the slightly wobbly line of the watercolor, creating a sense of organic process. You know, it reminds me a bit of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, where everyday objects become profound through careful observation and quiet contemplation. It's that kind of unassuming beauty that makes you stop and think about the simple things in life. It's irregular, but so is life, and sometimes that's what makes things beautiful.