Teco Pottery

Collection of Harald Hals, Oslo, Norway
Gifted by the artist to the The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1976 at an auction commemorating the Museum’s 100^th anniversary

The Gates Potteries Publications, Teco Art Pottery, Terra Cotta, IL, 1904, p. 6
The Gates Potteries Publications, Teco, Chicago, IL, 1910, n.p.
Sharon Darling, Teco Art Pottery of the Prairie School, Erie, PA, 1989, pp. 119, 131 and 147
Linda H. Roth and Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser, At Home With Gustav Stickley:  American Arts & Crafts from the Stephen Gray Collection, London, 2008, p. 97
Jason T. Busch, Decorative Arts and Design:  Collection Highlights, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, 2009, p. 151

Overall in very good condition. There is no evidence of any prior restoration to the vase. The exterior surfaces with a few very faint surface scratches, and some minor rubbing marks to the edges of the four vertical corners of the vase. Two of the feet with very tiny pinhead size glaze flecks to the outermost ribbed contours. The interior with traces of surface soiling and surface residue. A strong example of the model displaying a very attractive rich glaze with strong charcoaling to the recessed contours which makes the decorative elements more notably pronounced.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Teco Pottery is known for designs that combined an architectonic presence with botanically-derived forms.  The present lot displays this quality with its dramatic reverse-tapered form softened by the organically-modeled tendrils which articulate the base.  Like most other designers who created works for Teco, Harald Hals was an architect by training.  Norwegian-born, he returned to his native country in 1911 where he worked as an architect until 1914, before taking a position with the city of Oslo where he was involved in the construction of numerous housing projects.  An example of this model is in the collection of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh.