Noted California ceramicist Rupert Deese passed away yesterday at the age of 85. We hadn’t gotten the chance yet to add one of his wonderful pieces to our collection, but we were aware of his involvement in the influential mid-century Padua Hills arts colony. That Claremont group included the great Harrison McIntosh, who Deese worked with for a time.

He mostly concentrated on functional stoneware such as bowls, plates, pitchers and other dinnerware. Having received an MA in ceramics at Claremont Graduate School, he also taught art at Mt. SAC. We hadn’t seen too many of his items at antique stores or flea markets, and never came across any of his work at a thrift. However, we became interested in his work when we visited the Harrison McIntosh retrospective at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona.

Deese’s stoneware had some really lovely, yet understated forms and glazes. We’re certainly going to still keep an eye out for his work, though it’s sure to rise in price with his passing. There may be hope though, since many of his pots had a paper label and an impressed mark - but that mark is an abstract “RD”. If the paper label has come off, there might be a chance of it going unidentified.

Deese’s work is represented in several different museums including the Smithsonian, the Mingei museum in San Diego and LACMA.

Source: LA Times