A Cube-Shaped Vase handmade of brick clay by Malcolm Wright of the Turnpike Road in Marlboro, Vermont, c. 2002

Cubic Vase, designed to stand in two different orientations, either upright, with the left surface of the vase's base resting on the table (see Photo 9), or askew, with the right surface of the base resting on the table (see Photo 10).  Constructed from slabs of clay, the vase is in the form of a cube with faceted sides that rupture the symmetry of its blocky form.  While the clay was still wet, a marquise-shaped opening was cut from the cube and the resulting pointed oval of clay was laid upon the vase.  When the vase was fired, the clay oval  left a ghostly form on the surface of the cube that echoes the opening directly above it.  This one-of-a-kind work beautifully embodies Malcolm Wright's interest in exploring the dynamic energy that even the most solid forms can exude.  Signed with the artist's "M/W" monogram on the underside of the vase (see Photo 8).

5.5" height x 5" length x 5" depth

Excellent condition, no flaws or defects

Brick clay works are fired at a moderate temperature of 2000 to 2100°F in what I call a soft fire method, using no glazes. The clay is just barely fused and the ash is just slightly melted. I hope to achieve brick reds, ochres, occasionally dark shades of blue and green with black around the edges. The outside surfaces show darker blacks with strong fire marks. These works are placed into the kiln without decoration and the fire does all the work.

—Malcolm Wright