Too Sweet

Too Sweet
Don Pilcher

Artist Biography
Acquisition Number: 2023.22
Medium: Porcelain with luster glazes
Size: 3 1/2 x 4 in.
Date: c. 2006
Credit: Gift of Richard D. Mohr

This vessel, one of two in a series titled “Too Sweet”, are named after the daughter of an attendant whom Pilcher and his wife hired to look after Pilcher’s ailing mother during her final years. The decadent pieces, taking the approximate shape and size of ice cream balls, have swirling luster glazes of gold, purple, blue, and white that bleed into each other. Pilcher is known for his decorative works such as these, that are sometimes mistaken for being made of bronze or other metallic materials, in part because the glazes look metallic and in part because many of his forms appear like a thin metal sheet that has been struck hard with a hammer. To get the shape he wants, he works with a drier than usual clay. If the vessels are not shaped quickly, they will absorb moisture from the wheel and collapse. This peril is particularly worrisome in forming pieces with overhangs, as in the "Too Sweet" series. In his work, each bump and dimple is individually crafted, making his work particularly impressive. To facilitate building the vessels’ walls, he has created clay prosthetic extensions to his fingers, which are useful when working in tight spaces. Because of the vessels’ intricate shapes, many of his works are incredibly difficult to execute.