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Grand Feu Art Pottery was a ceramics manufacturer in California.
Background and Technique of Grand Feu Art Pottery
Active 1912—16, Grand Feu Art Pottery was founded in California by Cornelius Brauckman. Its output was of high quality and aesthetically distinctive. Generically, grand feu is ceramic ware fired at 2500°F (1400°C), maturing its body and glaze simultaneously. Grand Feu is both porcelain and gres, and Grand Feu Art Pottery specializes in the latter. Calling their wares ‘Gres-Cerame,’ Grand Feu Art Pottery produced a vitrified body that was neither pure nor translucent. Brauckman did not apply colour, relying instead on the natural effects produced by an interaction of heat and glaze. His wares are considered the highest of those made in the USA, exemplifying the pottery from Grand Feu.
About Cornelius Brauckman
Cornelius Walter Brauckman (1864–1952) was an American ceramicist best known for founding the Pottery in California during the early 20th century. Born to Prussian immigrant parents, Brauckman spent his early years in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1880, he briefly attended the School of Fine Arts at Washington University. By 1894, he had relocated to California, where he was described as a farmer, rancher, and prospector. His discovery of clay deposits on his property in Redlands, east of Los Angeles, led him to establish the Pottery around 1912 or 1913.
Influence and Legacy of Grand Feu Art Pottery
Grand Feu Art Pottery’s creations reflect the broader Arts and Crafts movement, which emphasized the beauty of everyday objects and a reconnection to nature. This movement valued handcrafted items and traditional materials, often featuring earth-toned colour palettes and stylized plant forms. (National Museum of American History)
Despite its brief operation, ceasing around 1916, Grand Feu Art Pottery significantly impacted American ceramics. Its pieces are now held in esteemed institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Museum of American History. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
The meticulous craftsmanship and innovative glazing techniques of Grand Feu Art Pottery continue to be celebrated by collectors and art historians, underscoring its enduring legacy in the decorative arts.
Recognition
Brauckman received a gold medal at the 1915 San Diego ‘Panama-California Exposition’. His work was shown at the 1916 ‘Los Angeles Annual Arts and Crafts Salon,’ highlighting the beauty of Grand Feu art pottery.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL
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