“The finished Van Briggle vase, graceful in shape, fascinating in decoration, and lovely in finish, stands by itself without even an imitation in the world of pottery.” — George D. Galloway, Brush and Pencil, October 1901

Newly acquired by the Two Red Roses Foundation and on display in MAACM’s fourth-floor pottery gallery this matte green chalice by Artus Van Briggle, which joins two other wonderful examples from his oeuvre.

Descended from a long line of artisans Artus Van Briggle was born on on March 21, 1869 in Felicity, Ohio, and like his family he showed promise as an artist from a young age. By 1887 he was working at Rookwood Pottery in Ohio where he expanded his skills in painting, modeling clay, and making molds. Professional triumph coincided with a worsening of his tuberculosis, and his declining health forced him to leave Rookwood for the dry climate of Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1899.

Van Briggle continued his ceramic experiments in Colorado, designing, casting, and firing the pieces almost entirely by himself with his innovative combination of modeled Art Nouveau-inspired forms and masterful glazes. This was his first design he created after settling permanently in Colorado Springs. The chalice, or toast cup, is adorned with a graceful mermaid peeking out of the side of the cup holding a fish. Her hair and body are flowing as if water is rippling around her. The swirling movement continues with the mermaid’s tail is spiraling down the stem, showing off Van Briggle’s masterful creativity and mastery of the craft.

Tragically, Van Briggle succumbed to tuberculosis during the Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. His wife, Anne, became president of the Van Briggle Company in 1905 and it continued to operate until 2012, at which time it was the oldest continually operating art pottery in the United States.