Ceramic Arts Studio Betty Harrington Design Mei-Ling Vintage 5" Head Vase 1950-1956

ITEM DESCRIPTION

This Ceramic Arts Studio Betty Harrington Design Mei-Ling Head Vase is in Excellent Vintage Condition with No Chips No Cracks No Crazing. Designed by Betty Harrington for Ceramic Arts Studio of Madison, Wisconsin, this charming vintage head vase dates from 1950–1956 and measures approximately 5" tall.

This Ceramic Arts Studio piece comes from an exceptional lifetime collection of well over 1,000 pieces, including figurines, salt & pepper shakers, head vases, and other Ceramic Arts Studio designs. Carefully assembled over many years, the collection represents an extraordinary gathering of Ceramic Arts Studio pieces. We were very fortunate to acquire more than 500 pieces from this collection and are pleased to make them available to our buyers.

Mei-Ling depicts an elegant Asian woman with beautifully modeled features, dramatically arched black eyebrows, long painted eyelashes, softly blushed cheeks and delicate pink lips. Her glossy black hair is intricately sculpted and swept back into a low arrangement at the back of her head.

She wears a soft pale green garment with a dark green neckline accented by a small hand-painted floral decoration. The rich glossy black hair contrasts beautifully with the light green clothing and warm complexion.

The vase opening is cleverly incorporated into the back of her sculpted hair. The underside is marked “MEI-LING” along with the Ceramic Arts Studio Madison identification and copyright mark.

ITEM CONDITION

Excellent Vintage Condition with No Chips No Cracks No Crazing.

Please review the photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description and show the condition, colors, glaze and hand-painted details of this vintage Ceramic Arts Studio head vase.

ITEM DETAILS

Maker: Ceramic Arts Studio

Designer: Betty Harrington

Design: Mei-Ling

Type: Head Vase

Height: Approximately 5"

Color: Black, Pale Green & Multicolor

Material: Glazed Ceramic

Date: 1950–1956

Made In: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Mark: “MEI-LING” with Ceramic Arts Studio Madison mark

DESIGNER HISTORY

Betty Harrington was the principal designer associated with Ceramic Arts Studio of Madison, Wisconsin. Her imaginative figurines and decorative designs, characterized by expressive personalities, elaborate costumes, distinctive faces and whimsical Mid-Century styling, helped establish Ceramic Arts Studio as one of the most recognizable American ceramic manufacturers of the 1940s and 1950s.

PATTERN & DESIGN

Mei-Ling is a striking example of Betty Harrington's distinctive head vase designs for Ceramic Arts Studio. The design combines an elegantly modeled face with heavily sculpted glossy black hair that forms both an important decorative element and the opening for the vase.

Her elongated eyes, sweeping eyelashes, dramatically arched eyebrows and softly painted facial features give Mei-Ling a distinctive stylized appearance. The pale green garment and small floral accent at the neckline provide subtle color against the dramatic black hair.

The combination of sculptural modeling, glossy glaze, hand-painted facial details and clever integration of the vase opening makes Mei-Ling an especially attractive example of Ceramic Arts Studio's Mid-Century head vase designs.

This measures 5" High x 4 1/8" Wide base. I have provided many pictures to best describe the condition of this Vase.