Very rare item by famous and world renowned, avant garde “Mad Potter of Biloxi” George Ohr; known for creating many of his pieces with an abstract design, incorporating sexual and erotic themes, much in the same manner as Georgia O’Keefe (there is, in fact an “Ohr–O’Keefe Museum”.
Many talented potters have tried to imitate his artistry, but with zero success, as his style is indigenous to himself—-George Ohr. For more information it would behoove the interested antique historian and potter to acquire the authoritative book on the subject and the man, “The Mad Potter of Biloxi” written by Eugene Hechte, Garth Clark and Robert Ellison; published in 1989.
This bank is circa 1895 and is in completely original and excellent condition, with zero restoration, no cracks, and the original surface. It is clearly marked with the appropriate markings on the underneath (see images) “G.E Ohr, Biloxi Miss.” indicating a date of 1895 as is documented in the reference book “Mad Potter oif Biloxi” on page 78. This was George Ohr’s period of thin walled vessels and “Biloxi bisque”. The bank resembles a bag of money and reveals the coin slot on the side, beneath and between a “fold”. One of the reasons this bank is so rare is, that to remove the coins the bank had to be broken; not to mention, having been made of pottery, it was prone to breakage over time, regardless. Also of note, there are no two George Orr banks alike; they were not “manufactured”; each one was hand made and different from other George Ohr examples. He developed a self imposed doctrine of “no two alike” so as to create each piece unique to the next. It is also interesting that George Ohr even designed banks, as he specialized predominantly in creating pots. He must have, for a brief period, taken a fancy to these items and thus came up with his own creation.
This example would be highly sought after by those who collect still coin banks, George Ohr items, or by those who simply want a unique and great piece of folk art Americana.
George Ohr was born in 1857 in Biloxi, Mississippi and began studying pottery at 22 years old. As stated in the book “Mad Potter of Biloxi” “His vessels are technical tours de force, unexcelled in the thinness of their bodies and control with which they are shaped–and misshaped; he threw perfect vessels and then folded and twisted them into unique and original forms”. He died in 1918. George Ohr is worth reading about!!
Dimensions:
4″ deep x 4″ wide x 4 1/2″ high
Provenance: From my own personal collection of coin banks; acquired privately in 2000