Lot 45: James Tower 1919 - 1988 British ceramic vase Sea

James Tower 1919 - 1988 British ceramic vase Sea Piece, Opus 186 20 1/2 x 22 x 4 1/2 inches 52.1 x 55.9 x 11.4 centimeters signed, titled and dated 1985 Provenance:Collection of the Artist Acquired from the above by the present Private Collection, Canada After a hiatus of almost twenty years, James Tower returned to ceramic forms in the late 1970s with a renewed vigor and an extraordinary burst of creativity. Tower was often called a "Picassoette", along with William Newland, Margaret Hine and Nicholas Vergette. This term, originally used by Bernard Leach, referred to how they drew inspiration from Pablo Picasso and the British tin glaze tradition (Leach, on the other hand, was influenced by traditional British slipware and eastern ceramics). Tower's works are known for their sculptural shapes, yet they often retain a small opening, reminding us that they are vessels. These reinvented vases evoke the long tradition of vessels made for practical use or for sheer decorative display by potters over the centuries. Tower's ceramic vessels all share the same rich, glossy tin glaze. This stunning surface is inspired by the patterns of water over sand. Included with this lot is a 22 1/2 x 18 inch related preliminary watercolour and gouache on paper sketch.