The Rowfant Club [Cowan] Pottery Candlestick.

Wilcox, Frank N. & Cowan Pottery Studio. & The Rowfant Club.

Published by The Rowfant Club, Cleveland, Ohio. # 56 of 156 copies; made in 1925., 1925

About this Item

# 56 of 156 copies; made in 1925. Description taken from A Bibliography of the Publications of the Rowfant Club, by Leland Schubert (1962) at p. 28: "Candlestick: The Rowfant Club Pottery Candlestick, 1926: A ground hog standing on a base, supporting a large open book facing outward and inscribed, 'Light seeking light doth light of light beguile,' [Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost] and clasping a twig with an opening at the top for a candle. Height, 9 1/2 inches; diameter of base, 5 1/4 inches. Hollow. [Dark] green glaze. Designed by Frank M. (sic)Wilcox [Wilcox, Frank N. 1887-1964]; manufactured by The Cowan Pottery Studio, Rocky River, Ohio. One hundred fifty-six copies, numbered on the underside of base and signed by R. G. Cowan. After the candlesticks were issued to Club members, the mold was destroyed. The 'Report of the Publication Committee' in the 1926 Yearbook states: 'During last summer many aching hearts were bared at the Friday Noon Lunch Club, distressed that a Rowfant Club [Seton-Thompson/Tiffany bronze] candlestick was to them an impossibility. Largely through the efforts of Theodore Sizer the present candlestick is being issued. It represents designing by Frank M. Wilcox (sic) [he became a Rowfant member in 1896], criticism by the Friday Noon Lunch Club and molding by the Cowan Pottery Studio. May this balm soothe those aching hearts and take away all envy of those more fortunate fellow members who possess the bronze Arctomys.' The candlesticks were distributed during the early months of 1926." The underside of this copy states: "Rowfant Club 1925 #56 of 156 Copies (signed) R. G. Cowan"; lettered in green ink. Under side shows a bit of age-related tanning. A perfect example of this rare piece with the exception of a minuscule, 1 mm. x 1 mm. chip off of the green glaze at right of the word "seek" on the open book held by the ground hog. As these candlesticks were actually used, some were nicked, chipped, & even broken; this one has minimal (nearly invisible) signs of that wear. Cowan Pottery Studios in Rocky River carried on the Ohio tradition of producing fine Arts & Crafts and influenced ceramics: "In ceramics, the Cowan Pottery in Rocky River was gaining national recognition [in the second decade of the 20th Century]. For many years it recruited most of its craftsmen from the Cleveland School of Art [where Henry G. Keller & Wilcox both studied & later taught]." (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, 1987, p. 51; see p. 1049 for an article on Frank N. Wilcox). Very infrequently do these candlesticks come up for sale. Such an attractive use of the groundhog's image has rarely been made. Seller Inventory # ABE-10573700700

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Rowfant Club [Cowan] Pottery Candlestick.

Publisher: The Rowfant Club, Cleveland, Ohio. # 56 of 156 copies; made in 1925.

Publication Date: 1925

Binding: No Binding

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket