Four Shino Glazed Stoneware Vessels, including Rick Hirsch and Shirley Johnson

Second half 20th century, including three tea bowls (chawan), the tallest by Richard Hirsch (American, b. 1944), signed and dated "Hirsch 7" to the underside (4 3/4 in.) the shortest by Shirley Johnson, unsigned (American, b. 1928-2010), and the third by an unidentified artist, unsigned (4 5/8 in.). Also included is a small covered matcha tea caddy (chaire) by Malcolm Wright signed to the underside (3 in.).

Sold to benefit the Yale University Art Gallery collection

In the field of contemporary ceramics, Richard Hirsch has earned an international reputation. Hirsch was a founding faculty member of The Program in Artisanry at Boston University. In 1987 Rick accepted a Professorship in The School for American Crafts at The Rochester Institute of Technology. Now retired from full time teaching he is a Professor Emeritus at RIT. Hirsch’s university teaching career spanned well into five decades.

Excelsior, Minnesota native, Shirley Johnson, is well-known for her high fire functional stoneware pottery. Johnson worked under famed Minnesota potter, Warren MacKenzie, while taking classes at the University of Minnesota and went on to work in MacKenzie’s studio as a production assistant. Johnson started working out of a studio at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota when it opened in 1990. Johnson also worked as an editor and contributor to Craft Connection Magazine. Archives of Johnson’s work for the magazine can be found through the Minnesota Digital Library.

Malcolm piece with chip to upper rim; Hirsch with crazing to interior; otherwise good condition.