VINTAGE CERAMIC MOSAIC PIECE - 1957-63 CATALINA ISLAND - CALIFORNIA POTTERY ART

Description

VINTAGE CERAMIC* MOSAIC TILE PIECE - 1957-1963
CATALINA ISLAND - CALIFORNIA POTTERY - ART
BOHEMIAN - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA POTTERY
* POSSIBLY A MIX OF CERAMIC & GLASS TILES.
This listing is for a large framed tile.
It is framed with a thick wooden border(painted black).
It is at least 58 years old.
The price includes fast, insured shipping.
This is from a non-smoking home.
CERAMIC MOSAIC TILE
WITH BLACK WOODEN FRAME
FROM CATALINA ISLAND.
==== NOTICE =====
UPDATE: This is a revision to the description, dated 8/19/2021 .
I’ve heard from a few collectors who stated that the material used for this mosaic tile seem to be a mix of ceramic tile and small glass tiles. They also stated they have seen similar pieces before, that the era, the design and the colors are very accurate to what I stated, 1957 to 1963.
One collector said she has had a similar piece that is round that she had purchased on Catalina Island back then. She also had a similar one she purchased at a small shop in Carmel, California in 1962.
Therefore, please consider this revision as you read the rest of the description. Simply stated: This vintage mosaic tile may be a mixture of ceramic and glass tiles.
Please see all photos, let me know if you have any questions or further information about the materials, style, the artist, the studio, etc.
Pottery studio: unknown (see Clarification below)*
Artist: unknown (no markings)
From: Catalina Island, CA (aka Santa Catalina Island)
Origin: Purchased at an art fair in Avalon on Catalina, circa 1957-1963.
Era: MidCentury Modern
Style: Abstract, Modern, Bohemian, Beat Era
Color: mixed colors (see photos)
Glazes: not certain, but a few varieties, all appear to have been high-fired.
Mixed Media? Please see my revision notes at the top of the page. Some collectors think this might be a mix of ceramic and glass tiles. Possibly mixed media. Definitely vintage.
Vintage: This is least 58 years old.
Source: Found at an estate sale in Laguna Beach in 1998.
Original price, circa 1963: .50 ...
Written on the back is the original price, It reads “.50”. That was circa 1963, calculated to current day inflation would be .68 today. As you can see, someone paid a pretty handsome sum for this back then.
* Clarification: This is not from Catalina Pottery or Catalina Island Pottery studios. It’s not from Catalina Clay Products or from the Santa Catalina Island Company either. My research has not yet determined which ceramic studio it is from. It doesn’t look mass-produced or production-line made.
After purchasing this I showed it to several people who are ceramic artists and pottery guild members.
If some of the tiles are actually glass, the glass maker or source is unknown.
None of the collectors nor ceramicists could confirm who the artist is.
Updates: I will update this description again if I learn more details about this nice vintage piece. If this piece is by a known-artist the price will go up, or it will be submitted to a live art auction.
UPDATE: This vintage mosaic tile might be a mix of ceramic and glass tiles. Please see the update details listed at the top of this page. Questions and comments welcome, please use eBay Messages.
The mosaic consists of many small to medium sized square pieces of fired pottery, and possibly glass pieces.
The color palette seems consistent with MidCentury Modern era, with the frequency of green, turquoise and warm orange. Also indicative of the era is the larger tile that is a teal colored motif on black background.
The tile pieces are set into a light gray grout or other joiner. The tile pieces are floating at various levels, not a flat surface, so probably not intended as a trivet or hotplate. This appears to be a decorative piece, to be displayed vertically on a mantle or tabletop.
Artist or studio identification: I have not taken this piece apart, though that might reveal an artist signature or pottery studio on the backside of the mosaic tile.
Please... do not ask me to remove the frame & backing... thanks.
The mosaic tile is framed in a pine border(painted black, original).
It has a plywood backing.
The inset tile measures 6” x 6”
Framed perimeter measures 6 3/4” x 6 3/4”
Tile thickness: unknown
Framing measures 1 5/8” depth
Weight: approx. 3 lbs.
I have not cleaned or repaired this piece.
I leave that up to the buyer, since most collectors have their preferred materials & methods.
Photo notes: I don’t know what the artist’s intention was, i.e. which is considered the top or bottom of this piece. To simplify it for this listing, I positioned the tile so that the black & teal tile is at the top.
The final photo has a Sharpie pen placed on the tile. This was done to provide a size scale. The pen is not included with the listing.
Condition:
This is in very good shape,
especially for being at least 58 years old.
The ceramic pieces are very good.
No chips, no cracks, no holes.
There appears to be one split glaze bubble in the lower right corner of the black & teal tile piece, see photo. I assume this happened in the firing process, and I think that it adds character to the piece, rather than a flaw or “damage”. It also reminds us that it’s a one-of-a-kind piece.
The wooden frame has corner dings, worn enough that some of the pine wood is revealed.
One corner has a separation issue, where it appears that glue, caulking or grout was color-matched to repair it or at least to prevent further separation.
The framing sides are good, with a few scuffs, no cracking or checking.
On the back, the framing edges are roughly painted with paint feathering.
The center of the back is plywood with a few small
paint stains and a knot hole.
There’s the original price written in ink on the back, in black felt pen.
It states “.50”. That was circa 1963, calculated to current day inflation would be .68 today. As you can see, someone paid a pretty handsome sum for this back then.
No mold or mildew, no bad scent.
This is from a non-smoking, non-vaping home.
Please see all photos.
Questions welcome.
Disclaimer: The details above are all based on my close examination of this piece and its materials, and from other collectors & ceramic makers I have shown it to. Please do you the updated information at the top of this description. Thanks.
To the best of my knowledge all of the pieces in the mosaic are glazed ceramic material, and possibly glass as well.
It doesn’t appear that any of the tiles any composite material or plastic/Bakelite/celluloid/or other materials.
This vintage piece is being sold as-is, and I have stated as much as I could find out about this piece, its origin, its provenance and the materials/mixed-media.
This piece is well-worth further research!
Price: .00 Buy It Now, or Make Offer.
Shipping: Free, USPS Priority Mail,
with insurance & tracking.
I can only ship to USA 50 states.
Payment: eBay Managed Payments only.
Please see my other listings related to art, ceramics, glass, architecture & design, industrial design, MidCentury Modern era, Arts & Crafts Era, cinema, music, the culinary arts, photography, filmmaking, rare books, and much more.