Plate c. 1953

Charlotte Sperber created this earthenware plate with what looks like colored slips and glaze. I can imagine her at work in the studio, considering the round, flat surface, and how to adorn it. There’s a very pleasing symmetry to the design, and she’s used the plant motif to great effect. Her color choices create a quiet harmony, that pale yellow contrasting the darker browns. A few dabs of green give the whole thing a little kick. I keep thinking about that border, how she’s echoed the shape of the plate with that wavy line. It's almost like a little dance around the edge. It brings a sense of playfulness to the piece. It's clear she knew her materials inside out, pushing the possibilities of color and form, speaking to the conversations and exchanges between artists through time. It reminds me of folk art, where a single gesture can convey meaning in a form of embodied expression which allows for multiple readings.