New Introductions For 2004
From Designer Kay Hackett!

 

For designer Kay Hackett, 2003 has been a rather busy year!  In June, her alma mater Alfred University awarded her an Alumni Citation for her "distinctive career achievements, community service and avocational pursuits"  

The campaign to nominate Kay for this award was relentlessly spearheaded by university professor and Stangl Pottery devotee Dr. Daniel Rase.   Kay was extremely flattered to be recognized over sixty years after her graduation.  Sadly, a recently developed health condition prevented her traveling to the commencement exercises to accept the award in person.  The citation has been framed, and is proudly and prominently displayed in Kay's home!  Without the tireless efforts of Dr. Rase and Margaret Rasmussen, the citation for Kay would not have been possible.  Many thanks to you both!

   
Kay beamingly shows off her Alfred University Citation!

 

Kay's 2004 Introductions!

Kay has also been creating new and original designs to add to her line of original ceramic artwork. For more details on the life of this gifted artist and examples of last year's introductions, visit our "Kay Hackett Story" and "Kay's New Line for 2002" web pages.

As with her last group of creations, Kay has commissioned us to act as her agent in presenting these one-of-a-kind creations for sale.   Our firm prediction is that these items are investment quality, and will escalate in value as her 1940s-50s hand-signed items have done.  Kay insists that these items be sold through Ebay; we plan to be listing them during early 2004, so keep checking our Ebay seller's name vase-kraft for these Kay Hackett originals!

 

Kay demonstrates how Stangl Dinnerware was individually hand-painted at a recent demonstration for the New Egypt Girl Scouts, Junior Troup #2, New Egypt, NJ.  

For two hours, 28 delightful young ladies gave Kay their full attention as she spoke on the history of ceramics and demonstrated Stangl's decorating techniques.  They sat absolutely spellbound as Kay explained and presented the use of stencils, hand-carving and hand-painting.

Her genius with a brush and fluid motion are as fresh and precise as when she first designed at Stangl in 1941.  To see more of Kay's creativity at work, click on "Kay Hackett's Recent Museum Program!"

For her latest creations, Kay has drawn on some of her tried and true motifs of the past as well as natural subjects.  She has put a new "spin" on some of her favorite "old" designs, while her new motifs are certainly in the style of "Traditional Kay".  Kay's unquestionable aptitude for bird and children's subjects is showcased in this latest addition to her collection.

The motifs are all hand-painted (by Kay Herself!) in permanent colors under the glaze. The shapes are all earthenware and the glazes are lead free and perfectly safe for use.  However, we are certain that these pieces will be cherished for Kay's capricious designs and deft brush-strokes rather than daily use.

 
Elegant silhouette of a soaring Gull against a backdrop of a few wispy blue clouds.  This dramatic motif is reminiscent of minimalist 1950s patterns.  In this simple pattern Kay skillfully expresses height and power.  Coupe shaped earthenware plate, 9 7/8" diameter, signed and dated 7/6/03.

 

   
Green Parrot, a new pattern evocative of Kay's 1940s designs.  The motif is hand-carved, providing depth and detail.  Hand-painted in bright green with French green leaves and rim.  Coupe shape 9 3/4" rolled rim earthenware plate, signed and dated 7/11/03.

 

  
The motif on Kay's Tiger Cat jug is a merging of her Kitten Capers pattern from 1955 and her 1965 Ginger Cat pattern.   Kay has a fondness for Tiger striped kittens and likes to work them into her designs whenever she can!  This is an earthenware jug, hand-carved and hand-painted, 6 1/2" tall, 5 1/2" diameter.  Signed and dated 9/25/03.

 


Kay's Black & White Puppies are an adaptation of her 1955 Playful Pups pattern for Stangl.


Kay has always been particularly fond of the heart wrenchingly inconsolable Howling Puppy motif, presented here in dramatic black and white.  This is an 8" coupe shape earthenware plate, signed and dated 8/14/03.


The Inquisitive Puppy seems rather concerned about whatever activity is occurring to his right, as though he is unsure if he should investigate more closely or high-tail it out of there!  Also an 8" coupe shape earthenware plate, signed and dated 8/25/03.

 


Kay has also applied her Puppies motifs to hand-thrown red stoneware shapes


Inquisitive Puppy motif on red stoneware 8" coupe red stoneware plate, signed and dated 8/14/03.  The glaze on these red stoneware pieces is exceptionally slick and shiny.

  
This hand-thrown red stoneware jug lends itself nicely to Kay's Inquisitive and Howling Puppy motifs!  This impressive jug is 8" tall and expertly hand turned with applied handle.  Signed and dated 7/28/03.

 

 


The Owl and the Pussy-Cat


The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey,
and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! let us be married;
too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the bong-tree grows;
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood,
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;

And hand in hand on the edge of the sand
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Edward Lear ~ 1871

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Kay's fondness for the childhood poem The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, penned by Edward Lear in 1871, inspired her to create the utterly delightful Owl and Pussycat children's plate.  This charming motif harkens back to the eloquent simplicity of Kay's Stangl Kiddieware designs of the 1940s.

The Owl and Pussycat may well be one Kay's best works yet!  The hand-carved design is executed to perfection and evinces the feeling of the movement of the sea and the brisk breeze filling the canvas sail!  Hand-painted in complementary hues on earthenware. The rolled-rim coupe plate measures 9 5/8" diameter and is signed and dated 8/25/03.

 

  


 

 

The Pelican

A wonderful bird is the Pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak
Food enough for a week;
But I'm damned if I see how the helican.

Dixon Lanier Merritt ~ 1910

 

The subject of Dixon Lanier Merritt's well-known limerick becomes a novel study for Kay's Pelican plate.  This stalwart character gazes unblinkingly at the bay while deciding on the day's bill of fare.  The Pelican motif originates from a large group of sketches and ideas developed by Kay during a vacation trip to Florida with her husband during the 1950s.  This wonderful adaptation is deftly hand-carved and hand-painted on a 10 1/4" coupe plate, signed and dated 7/12/03.

 

 

 

And lastly...  

  
Kay's elegant and dapper penguin motif adorns two sides of this classical-styled vase.  The background features distant icy blue crags and glaciers.  This is truly a spectacular piece!  the vase measure 9 1/2" tall, and 7" diameter at the shoulder.  The penguins are beautifully and realistically executed on this cold and snowy white vase!  The vase is earthenware, signed and dated 9/2/03.

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