DALLAS – In the never-ending pursuit of greatness, some try to expand their repertoires to the point that they can not help but be acknowledged for the sheer scope of their accomplishments.
Others, like ceramicist James Lovera, take the alternate approach: find a talent and perfect it – mix in variations, as needed, but continue to execute at an unsurpassed level. The California-born artist developed and perfected what is now considered his signature style of bowl, 19 of which will be featured in Heritage Auctions’ Design Auction July 15. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Likely the largest selection of Lovera’s work ever brought to a single auction, the lots all come from a single collection, from a consignor who got each of them directly from the artist.
“James Lovera is exceedingly important, and perhaps a little bit underrecognized, within the market from the American post-war Ceramics movement,” Heritage Auctions Design Director Brent Lewis said. “Perhaps it’s because he did something really simple … but then did it so brilliantly, experimenting endlessly with glazes, textures and colors.
“The selection in this auction includes some of what are the most interesting examples of his work to come to market, in both color and execution. Heritage Auctions is offering a trove of his work that really represents Lovera’s considerable contributions to ceramics.”
“The types of glazes he used are direct opposites although both reference the natural world he saw around him,” according to The Marks Project, dubbed “The Dictionary of American Studio Ceramics 1946 onward. “They can range from the textural crater glazes for which he is perhaps most well-known to glossy Asian inspired glazes in vivid colors.”
Additional highlights from the Lovera selection follow:
A 2001 porcelain bowl, estimated at $2,000-$3,000
A circa 1995 porcelain bowl, estimated at $1,800-$2,400
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