New Acquisition Alert: Anna Marie Valentien

This new addition to the collection of the Two Red Roses Foundation is a rare vase from the Rookwood Pottery Company, Cincinnati, OH. Designed and sculpted by Anna Marie Valentien, this vase features the sculpted figure of a woman perched precariously on the lip of the vase, her sinuous form follows the natural curve of the vessel along the shoulder, down the body of the vase. The expertly modeled drapery that serves as her simple tunic dress delicately melts into the vase body as if she and the vase are one. In a gorgeous marigold yellow, this vase stands out amongst other art pottery as a vibrant example of color, form, and design. This vase joins other works by Anna Marie Valentien in the TRRF collection including, the later work, Vase with Three Figures (c.1911-1913). With three siren-like figures drifting on the surface of this mushroom-shaped vase, finished with a matte yellow to green ombre glaze, this vase shows Valentien’s continued use of sculpted figures in her work.

Born in Cincinnati in 1862, Anna Marie Bookprinter studied at the McMichen School of Design and the Cincinnati Art Academy before working at the Rookwood pottery from 1884-1905. During her time at Rookwood she met chief artist Albert Robert Valentien, and married him in 1887. As was common for Rookwood’s artists the couple spent time in Paris learning from European masters. While abroad Valentien studied at the Académie Colarossi and under Auguste Rodin at the Académie Rodin picking up on Rodin’s dramatic sculptural style.