Object Timeline

1970

1972

  • Work on this object began.

1973

  • Work on this object ended.

1986

  • We acquired this object.

2015

2018

2024

  • You found it!

Service for Twelve

It was designed by Beatrice Wood. It is dated 1972–73 and we acquired it in 1986. Its medium is thrown luster-glazed earthenware. It is a part of the department.

Beatrice Wood’s fascination with luster began as a young visitor to museums where she saw Persian luster plates. In the 1930s, Wood took a pottery class in order to develop her own techniques for lusterware, a trial that would become a lifelong pursuit. While historically luster was used as surface decoration on already-glazed forms, Wood worked with in-glaze luster. Gold lustrous glaze became her trademark and she often used it on classically inspired vessels such as the chalice seen here.

This object was donated by Mark Del Vecchio and Garth Clark. It is credited Gift of Garth Clark and Mark Del Vecchio.

Its dimensions are

H x diam.: 2.1 x 28 cm (13/16 x 11 in.)

It has the following markings

Painted in black on underside: "BEATO"

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Iridescence.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318792691/ |title=Service for Twelve |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>