1980's Gorky Gonzales Round Platter

Description

Gorky Gonzalez of Guanajuato, revived majolica pottery, introduced to Mexico by the Spanish; the technique had nearly been lost when … more Gorky Gonzalez of Guanajuato, revived majolica pottery, introduced to Mexico by the Spanish; the technique had nearly been lost when Gonzalez , a ceramic artist who had a terra cotta studio, began investigating two old pieces he discovered.

Trained in numerous art schools in Mexico, he had also studied Japanese ceramics in both Tokyo and Okahyama. Born in 1939,
Gorky Gonzalez Quinones won numerous awards in his own country as well as internationally; he died in 2017.

His studio is now run by one of his sons, and it produces a few reproductions of Gonzalez' work, but seems to have focused more on frog pitchers and portrayals of Mexican festival characters, i.e. Day of the Dead.

If one studies the original pieces (this one was purchased from his studio in 1980, when he was at about mid-career, the artwork
has slightly more subtle colors and a lighter hand with the outlines of patterns. The majolica glazes are heavy but purposely miss
areas (see above, which is typical of his own work). There was also a greater variety objects in his early work----large candleholders,
dishes, trays, dinnerware, vases small and large.

We fiind the earlier work far more individual and representative of Mexican motifs and colors far superior and more subtle and artful than recent production, and it is nearly impossible to find the older pieces.

This heavy serving tray measures 13" wide, 3" high, with a 5" base; it is perfect condition, used little, and cared for like the piece of art it is. less