A Deeper Dive into Relief Sculpture

We utilize three styles of sculptural decoration in our designs:

  • Bas-relief or low relief

  • High relief

  • Carved relief

Bas-relief Process

In the early days at Ephraim, Kevin developed a technique for representing naturalistic leaves and flowers from a thin bead of clay. All of our Grueby-revival designs, as well as many of our bats and poppy designs, are made with this low-relief sculptural technique.
American Art Pottery

Examples of Bas-relief in our Current Collections

American Art Pottery
Serenity Vase • $178
American Art Pottery
Lidded Ginkgo Jar • $398
American Art Pottery
Diving Dragonfly Vase • $188

High Relief Process

When Laura came to Ephraim, she pioneered a high-relief sculptural style that has added to our repertoire. We use high relief sculpture to represent irises, frogs, bears, and numerous other flora and fauna.
American Art Pottery

Examples of High Relief in our Current Collections

American Art Pottery
Hop Skip and a Flutter Vase • $278
American Art Pottery
Catalpa Vase • $348
American Art Pottery
Trout Lily Vase • $218

Carved Relief Process

Inspired by historic Marblehead Pottery and Saturday Evening Girls Pottery, we began experimenting with carved techniques several years ago. This method of decoration has translated into popular designs in our Lyrical Line.

American Art Pottery

Examples of Carved Designs in our Current Collections

American Art Pottery
Buttercup Ballad Vase • $318
American Art Pottery
Crescendo Rose Vase • $318
American Art Pottery
Tritone Vase • $188

 

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