Wall sconce

ca. 1937–50

Not on view

The vogue for such Viennese-inspired sculpture was widespread in America. One of the leading exponents of such work was Susi Singer. An Austrian emigré, Singer produced ceramics for the Wiener Werkstatte studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna, under Professor Michael Powolny, and she quickly a leading ceramic artists in Europe, winning awards at world’s fairs including the International Paris Exposition of 1925. Like many artists, she fled Europe in 1937, and soon received a teaching position at the ceramics department at Scripps College in Claremont, California. As can be seen by this figural wall sconce, Singer’s geographical shift did not greatly alter her aesthetic. Its imagery of a young girl in fluttering drapery bespeaks the artist’s earlier Austrian training.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Wall sconce
Maker: Susi Singer (Austrian, Vienna 1891–1965 California)
Date: ca. 1937–50
Geography: Made in Los Angeles or Claremont, California, United States
Culture: American
Medium: Earthenware
Dimensions: L. 12 3/4 in.
Credit Line: Gift of Martin Eidelberg, 2020
Object Number: 2020.64.155
Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

By Susi Singer

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Greetings from St. Nicholas (Gruss vom Nicolo), Susi Singer Austrian, Color lithograph — Greetings from St. Nicholas (Gruss vom Nicolo)
Susi Singer
Publisher Wiener Werkstätte
1910

Our America with Florida Coconut Palms, Small dish, Rockwell Kent American, Earthenware, American — Our America with Florida Coconut Palms, Small dish
Designer Designed by Rockwell Kent
Designer Gale Turnbull
Manufacturer Vernon Kilns
1940–43

Two wall sconces (Bras de cheminée), Jean-Claude Duplessis French, Soft-paste porcelain decorated in polychrome enamel, gold, gilt bronze, French, Sèvres — Two wall sconces (Bras de cheminée)
Modeler Model attributed to Jean-Claude Duplessis
Manufactory Sèvres Manufactory
ca. 1761

Ornament Card (Schmuckkarte), Susi Singer Austrian, Color lithograph — Ornament Card (Schmuckkarte)
Susi Singer
Publisher Wiener Werkstätte
1912

Teapot with Southwestern Pueblo, Rockwell Kent American, Earthenware, American — Teapot with Southwestern Pueblo
Designer Designed by Rockwell Kent
Designer Gale Turnbull
Manufacturer Vernon Kilns
1939

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