Monumental 16" Charles Counts Studio Pottery Cylinder Vase

Monumental 16" Charles Counts Studio Pottery Cylinder Vase - Rising Fawn 1974 - Zen Calligraphy Up for sale is a museum-caliber, monumental 16-inch studio art pottery cylinder vase hand-thrown and carved by the celebrated American master ceramicist Charles Counts (1934–2000). Crafted at his famed Rising Fawn Pottery studio on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, this architectural statement vessel is explicitly dated 1974—marking the exact apex of Counts' career when his work achieved national prominence and was selected for exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Design & Aesthetic Elements This exceptional piece serves as a 360-degree sculptural canvas blending traditional Southern Appalachian stoneware heritage with mid-century Zen-inspired modernism. The heavy, iron-rich stoneware body features a multi-tonal, semi-matte earth-toned slip wash beautifully contrasting against highly tactile, hand-carved panels: Front Panel: A deeply incised, fluid Chinese brush-stroke character for 禪 (Chán / Zen), framed by ancient seal-script calligraphy fragments. Side Panels: A beautifully executed oval cartouche with geometric cross-hatching and a structural panel mimicking an East Asian signature seal stone (yìnzhāng), bordered by a dense, vertically repeating stamped teardrop pattern. Reverse Panel: A sharp, architectural grid system of sgraffito lines evoking ancient structural layout maps. Rim: Features a raw, unglazed flat rim showcasing the stunning organic texture of the native clay. Authenticity & Base Markings The unglazed stoneware base is fully signed, dated, and localized with deeply incised signatures scratched directly into the clay prior to firing: Inscription: "RISING FAWN / 1974 / C. Counts" Kiln Artifact: Features a beautiful, native light-blue glaze drip pooled natively on the edge of the foot ring—a celebrated, authentic fingerprint from the 1974 kiln firing. Specifications Height: 16" Diameter: 4" Weight: Heavy, substantial stoneware weight. Condition: Excellent, pristine vintage condition. Sound, clean, and 100% structurally intact. There are zero cracks, zero post-market chips, and absolutely no modern repairs or restorations. Completely factory-original throughout. Nearest intersection Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue