vase, Marie Levering Benson

Exhibition Label:
"Windmills to Workshops: Lawrence and the Visual Arts," Jul-2004, Kate Meyer
This vase is a fine example of Benson’s Kanza ware, which is made from local clays and glazes and named after the indigenous people of northeast Kansas. Benson lived in Lawrence, where she taught ceramics and design at KU from 1909 to 1920. Before joining the KU faculty, Benson studied art from 1902 to 1908 at Newcomb College, the women’s college of Tulane University in New Orleans. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Newcomb Pottery Studio emphasized the use of native clays and motifs, and the potters took great pride in their Southern heritage. When Benson came to KU, she brought with her knowledge of Newcomb Pottery, which can be seen in her emphasis on local materials. Unlike the transparent glazes of early Newcomb pottery, Kanza ware uses matt glazes and limited decoration. Possibly, this simplified approach intentionally emphasizes materials and construction with the hope of establishing a local aesthetic.

Archive Label 1999:
This vase has a red iron glaze that has left a mottled surface. Its base is inscribed KANZA.