Raul Coronel, Birds wall plaque, 1965, 31 x21 in., Red Modern Furniture
Raul Coronel is one of my favorite American Mid-Century ceramicists. He created a wide variety of pieces during his career, but there is something about the tactile quality of ceramic over cloth seen on many of his wall relief pieces that appeals to me most.
Raul Coronel, Roosting Bird / Nesting Bird, 1965, each 24 x 18 in., LA Modern (pair sold for $500 in 2007)
Raul Coronel, Four Nesting Birds, circa 1965, 28 x 21.75 in., LA Modern (sold for $1,100 in 2007)
Raul Coronel, untitled (Flower in vase), 1968, 20 x 18 in., LA Modern (sold for $650 in 2009)
Raul Coronel, Jeweled Brilliant Sun, 1960's, 61 x 61 in., Reform Gallery ($7000 at post)
Lidded serving bowl, glazed stoneware, 1973, NOHO
Architectural Pottery is reproducing one of Raul's ceramic lantern designs, The "RL Lantern" (Show Above). Hopefully they will add some of his pendant lamp shades to their selection.
Raul Angulo Coronel was born in Mexicali, Mexico in 1926 and immigrated to the US when he was 14. During the 1950's he studied with some of the most prominent names in the American studio pottery movement, including Susan Peterson, Marguerite Wildenhain and Peter Voulkos. He created a wide range of pieces from the mid 1950's till 1985 including, pots, lamps, sculpture, murals and architectural elements. His work can be seen in the permanent collections of numerous museums. He closed up his California studio in 1985 and has since become an author.
6 comments:
I have a Raul Coronel piece date '63. It is partridges in a pear tree mounted on a cloth covered backboard, approx. 30" x 48". All the tile is is good condition, but the material is very water damaged and stained. Do you have any suggestions for remounting this piece without diminishing its value?
Thank you,
Hello,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am not sure what would be the best way to do that, but I would suggest contacting Michael Hickman (Calusa). He knows a lot about Raul's work and has a thread about him on the 20th Century Forum.
Here is the link/address:
http://fatlava.forummotion.com/t5623-raul-coronel
Good Luck!
Kevin;
In Elkhart Indiana Raul Coronel was commissioned to produce a ceramic "History of Medicine" Mosaic / Mural that is about 90 ft long and 5-7 foot tall. Any idea its value and can we get help to remove it. It was commissioned in 1965 and mounted in 1966. Over 4,000 pieces of high fired, brightly glazed clay.
Hello. Thanks for your comment. I have asked ceramist Brent Bennet (whom worked extensively with Raul) of help on this one.
Hi there. I'm Brent Bennett, and I helped to create the mural, and I was the installer. It would be a difficult removal, although not impossible. The main mural and the side mural were designed to be put up in large sections of many pieces already white glued down to a backing material, with several pieces left off so that it could be screwed or nailed to the wall in those spots. The left off pieces were then glued into their spots. There is no key to which those pieces were. The sections of the panel that come out on the curved walls to meet the column panels were glued directly to the wall. It was all white glue and is therefore able to be soaked off, but on vertical walls, and indoors that is not recommended. Those would be the sections that would be almost impossible to get off without damage. I know the single panel on the one smooth wall was nailed up because as we drove nails, we could hear breaking glass from the glass brick wall behind the wall board.
By working behind the sections it might be possible to work, (pry), that section free with minimum damage, and then each other section could then be similarly pried up very carefully to get the nails or screws to let go from the wall, or from the backing. I don't remember how thick the plywood or particle board was. We normally were using 3/8" particle board at that time.
In terms of value, I think it was an invaluable piece, but as I remember, we were paid $15,000 for it, and the designer got $30,000 for it. Being topical, the value is limited to what anyone is interested in paying for it. It was a major piece, and as I said, to me it was quite valuable. We had another piece with the same problem, what to value it. They were after a tax write-off. To replace such a mural today, the value would be $250 to $400 per sq. ft.
If you need to reach me for further information, I can be reached at :bjblcb@earthlink.net, or through my website of :bjbdesign.com.
Regards,
Brent J. Bennett
Thanks Brent!
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