Joann Spamer Signed Porcelain Winged Sculptural Vessel With Artist Note, 1986

Details

Description

A signed and dated 1986 handbuilt porcelain vessel by Joann Spamer, accompanied by her handwritten gift dedication and detailed process … Read more A signed and dated 1986 handbuilt porcelain vessel by Joann Spamer, accompanied by her handwritten gift dedication and detailed process note. Delicate construction, softly graduated color, and an expressive winged silhouette give this small studio work a compelling sculptural presence.

Three curved, overlapping sections converge around a rounded triangular basin, extending outward into thin, irregular wings. The unfolding composition evokes a shell, blossom, or seedpod. An ivory-gray glazed surface deepens into smoky blue and lavender along the rim and projecting edges, accentuating the porcelain’s fine contours.

Spamer’s accompanying note specifically identifies the “winged vessel” and explains its creation: the handbuilt porcelain was glazed and fired to 2,381°F, then airbrushed with overglaze and refired to approximately 1,450°F to fuse the color to the glaze. This firsthand account provides a particularly meaningful connection between the finished object and the artist’s working methods.

An intimate work of studio ceramic sculpture, with a distinctive profile that reveals itself through changing viewpoints.

Artist & Historical Context

Joann Spamer’s ceramics practice is documented in publications and exhibitions from the 1980s. In 1983, Ceramics Monthly published her technical contribution on protecting fragile ceramic rims before bisque firing, identifying her location as Poway, California. A February 1985 exhibition listing records her work at Gallery Eight in La Jolla.

In 1986, George Washington University’s Dimock Gallery included her porcelain Shell Vessel and Twig Vessel in its Annual Student Show. These documented works establish her exploration of sculptural porcelain during the same period as this vessel.

Provenance

Acquired from a Northern Virginia estate. The underside bears the Spamer signature and 1986 date.

Retains an accompanying handwritten dedication signed Joann and dated August 1, 1986, addressed to Ann, Fran, and Marianne. The paper includes detailed descriptions of the materials, glazing, firing temperatures, and finishing techniques used for the gifted vessels, specifically identifying the winged example.

The handwritten dedication and process note are included.

Designer Notes

A refined accent for an Organic Modern interior, contemporary library, or collected cabinet of curiosities. Its pale porcelain and smoky lavender shading complement dark walnut, travertine, brushed metal, linen, and clear glass.

Display on a protected shelf or within a glass-front cabinet, leaving space around the projecting wings. Among larger vessels or art books, its intimate scale and delicate construction invite closer viewing.

Artist: Joann Spamer
Date: 1986
Period: 1980s
Form: Winged sculptural vessel
Materials: Porcelain, glaze, fired overglaze decoration
Technique: Handbuilt, glazed, airbrushed, and kiln-fired
Colors: Ivory-gray, smoky blue, lavender
Dimensions: Approximately 5¼″ W × 2¾″ H
Marks: Signed Spamer and dated 1986
Included: One vessel with accompanying handwritten dedication and process note See less