Price: $595.00 CAD
Artist: Allan Crimmins (Canadian, 1936–2022)
Studio: Crimmins Pottery — Shampers Bluff, New Brunswick, Canada
Form: Monumental Studio Stoneware Platter
Period/Date: 1977
Dimensions: 17 ¼” (43.8 cm) Diameter
Description
An exceptional large-scale studio stoneware charger / platter by renowned New Brunswick ceramic artist Allan Crimmins, created at the historic Crimmins Pottery studio and dated 1977. Measuring an impressive 17 ¼ inches in diameter, this exhibition-scale work represents the bold, expressive character of Canadian studio pottery during the late modernist era.
The broad circular surface serves as a dramatic canvas for an abstract sgraffito composition. Deeply incised looping and zig-zag forms radiate from a central whorl, each carved with finely spaced parallel lines that reveal the darker clay body beneath the pale glaze. The resulting interplay of texture, movement, and contrast creates a powerful visual presence that is unmistakably hand-crafted and sculptural in nature.
The charger / platter is finished in a richly speckled oatmeal-toned glaze with abundant iron spotting and subtle kiln variation throughout. The combination of monumental scale, vigorous carved decoration, and masterful studio craftsmanship elevates the piece well beyond functional pottery into the realm of decorative ceramic art.
Signature and Markings
The reverse retains its original unglazed stoneware base and features:
• A prominent hand-incised cursive signature, “Crimmins.”
• A hand-incised date, “77,” confirming production in 1977.
• Visible wheel-throwing rings and original studio finishing marks consistent with hand-crafted studio pottery.
Condition
Excellent Original Vintage Condition. Examination reveals no visible chips, cracks, repairs, or restorations. The glaze remains well preserved, and the carved decoration is crisp and clearly defined. The reverse displays only expected signs of studio manufacture and age consistent with an artisan-made ceramic object.
Display Information
The foot rim incorporates two pierced holes for suspension, allowing the piece to be displayed as wall-mounted ceramic art. With its impressive 17 ¼-inch diameter and commanding visual presence, this charger/platter functions equally well as a dramatic wall display or tabletop centerpiece. An outstanding example of Atlantic Canadian studio pottery, it would make a significant addition to collections of Canadian decorative arts, mid-century design, and twentieth-century studio ceramics.