Bowl c. 1950s

This is a bowl by Laura Andreson, but without a date, it can be tricky to pinpoint the exact moment of its making. What we can say is that it’s a piece of 20th-century studio pottery, an art form that emerged out of the Arts and Crafts movement, which rejected industrial production in favor of handmade objects. This bowl carries that spirit, evident in its simple form and the rich, varied texture of its glaze. The Arts and Crafts movement was about more than just aesthetics. It was concerned with the social role of the artist, advocating for a return to craft production as a way to counter the alienating effects of industrial labor. To fully appreciate this bowl, we might delve into journals and exhibition catalogs from the period, tracing the debates and discussions that shaped the studio pottery movement. Approaching art through the lens of its social and institutional history gives us a much fuller understanding of its meaning and significance.