Vase

Olive Forbes Sherman

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Olive Forbes Sherman was one of the ceramic teachers at New York Clayworking School at Alfred University. Little is known of her work, although she was recognized at the time for her designs, being awarded second prize for a “vase design trees” in 1902 and a “2nd mention” for a design she submitted as part of the competition for the design of the Seal for the American Ceramic Art Society in the same year. Made in 1901, the undulating design of the relief-modeled decoration on this vase attests to Sherman’s awareness of the Art Nouveau style in France. The mistletoe motif was one that inspired turn-of-the-century artists both here and abroad. It appears that in spite of Sherman’s obvious talents, she did not pursue a career in ceramics. She is credited with establishing the Honey Pot in 1915 for making honey candies to utilize left over honey, likely from her husband, Dr. Lloyd Raymond Watson’s work as an apiarist and his research into honey while teaching at Alfred.

The American Wing

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The American Wing's ever-evolving collection comprises some 20,000 works of art by African American, Euro American, Latin American, and Native American men and women. Ranging from the colonial to early-modern periods, the holdings include painting, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative arts—including furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, basketry, quill and bead embroidery—as well as historical interiors and architectural fragments.

Metropolitan Museum of Art