Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A hand-built ceramic 'pillow' or 'envelope' vase featuring a slab-constructed body with a distinctive flattened profile. It showcases a sgraffito or slip-painted design of stylized pine trees against a terracotta ground, framed by a rich, variegated green and blue drip glaze.
Story
The 1970s saw a massive 'back to the land' movement where artists rejected factory-made goods for the soul of the kiln. This vase captures that spirit, using the ancient 'pillow' shape to create a canvas for a forest scene.
Maker / Origin
The signature appears to be 'M.D. Pick...' (possibly Pickering or Pickens), a studio potter working in the American regional tradition. These artists often sold through local galleries and craft fairs, focusing on unique, one-of-a-kind functional art rather than mass production.
Condition & Value
The vase appears to be in excellent vintage condition with no visible chips or cracks. The glaze remains vibrant, and the unglazed portions show no significant staining. Excellent condition for studio pottery typically maintains the higher end of the value range.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.