Ceramic Tile

Studio Iowa College Pottery (American (Ames, IA), Iowa State College, 1920 - 1939)

Date1936

OriginUSA

MediumCeramic

Dimensions4 1/2 x 4 1/2 in. (11.4 x 11.4 cm)

ClassificationsDecorative Arts, Ceramics

Credit LineGift of Patricia Knight. In the permanent collection, Brunnier Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberum86.113

Status

Not on view

Collections

CultureAmerican

Label TextFrom the University Museums Collections Handbook, vol. 2, 2025: The Ceramic Engineering Department at Iowa State College gained recognition in the early 20th century, largely due to the efforts of Paul E. Cox, Associate Professor and later Chair of the department (1920–1939). Cox, an accomplished ceramic artist and engineer, collaborated with artist Christian Petersen, sculptor-in-residence from 1934 to 1955, on major projects, including the terra cotta relief murals for the Dairy Industry Building’s courtyard and the Veterinary Medicine Mural. These murals, made of multiple relief panels, were fired in the “Cox kiln” located in the ceramic engineering laboratory. Cox played an instrumental role in determining the unglazed surface for the works and used these large-scale commissions as teaching opportunities for his students. Under Cox’s leadership, the student chapter of the American Ceramic Society became actively involved in VEISHEA, Iowa State’s annual spring celebration. As part of VEISHEA, students under Cox’s direction produced hundreds of ceramic souvenirs to be sold or given away to campus visitors. Three such tile souvenirs were designed by Christian Petersen. The tile depicting a man shaping a clay vessel shows a squatting male figure, carefully incised, with the figure filling the tile’s space and showing detailed upper body muscles evoking the classical ideal of the nude. Two unglazed versions of this tile are in the collection as well and has Christian Petersen’s chop mark in the upper right. The tile is thought to have been titled “Thinker,” possibly due to its resemblance to Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture of the same name.

Locations