New at MartzPots.Org

MartzPots.Org

I began this non-commercial, free, historical website in 2001 to document the ceramic art and lives of my parents. It is a work in progress. I expect to continue its development for years. If you have questions about specific pieces or signatures, please send photos to Eric Martz. The Karl Martz branch of this site has photos of over 270 of his pots.

Enter Website "Karl Martz & Becky Brown, Potters"
Click the link above to enter the main site.
This site contains over 230 pages that show over 500 photographs. See the Site Map/Index.

What's New?

April, 2020. Additions from the collection of Robert Grant, nephew of Karl Martz, son of Karl's sister Martha Martz Grant.

Karl Martz pots added to galleries:
Becky Brown pots added to galleries:
1. 1947 polychrome bowl. An interesting year since Becky did not have access to a ceramics studio then. Added to Becky Brown Pottery.
2. ca. 1940 lovely little long-necked vase added to Becky Brown Pottery.
3. ca. 1940, four nutcups, two with unusual signatures added to Brown/Martz "Production" Pottery.
4. ca. 1940 surprisingly uncharacteristic little bowls added to Brown/Martz "Production" Pottery.

January, 2020.

Karl Martz pots added to galleries:
Becky Brown pots added to galleries:
1. Yellow dinner plate, 1956.
Some date and serial number codes have been re-interpreted to be more consistent. "First year" pieces with a serial number code but no year code have been re-interpreted to be "early 1980's" (possibly as late as 1986) instead of "ca. 1981".

October, 2019.

Karl Martz pots added to galleries (7 boldface works deemed by Eric to be particularly important):
1. Earthenware bowl with band of geometric decoration, 1934.
2. Bowl by Karl Martz with lotus decorations, 1937.
3. White and green earthenware pitcher by Karl Martz, 1937 with long spout. Sold for $510 in 2007. Seller bought it in a thrift shop in Maryland for $3.90.
4. Colorful earthenware bowl, 1938.
5. Another colorful earthenware bowl, 1938.
6. Another colorful earthenware bowl with a daisy decoration, 1938.
7. A 3rd rooster, ca. 1938, has been added here.
8. A 1938 bowl, ca. 14 inches in diameter, that sold in 2009 for $1,450.
9. A small blue vase with art-deco relief, 1938, formerly shown in Auctions, is now also included in Karl's 1930's Gallery.
10. Small blue and gray earthenware vase, 1939, accompanied by a charming sales letter by Becky Brown. "We cannot part with it for less than $10." Ten 1939 dollars was worth $180 in 2019 dollars. Sold for $599 in 2014.
11. Earthenware bowl by Karl Martz, 1939.
12. Ribbed yellow vase by Karl Martz, 1939.
13. Trivet tile by Karl Martz, 1940.
14. Earthenware bowl with flower decoration by Karl Martz, 1940.
15. Bowl with green stylized floral designs by Karl Martz, 1940.
16. Green vase with stylized birds in relief, 1940. Sold for $810 in 2004.
17. Small vase with elaborate deep blue and turquoise designs, 1940. Sold for $960 in 2005.
18. A small vase decorated with floral and geometric designs, 1940, formerly shown in Auctions, is now also included in Karl's 1940's Gallery.
19. A small turquoise vase, 1940, formerly shown in Auctions, is now also included in Karl's 1940's Gallery.
20. An unusual bowl by Karl Martz, 1941.
21. Bowl with incised decorations by Karl Martz, 1942.
22. Green earthenware bowl by Karl Martz, 1945. This must be one of the earliest pieces he made after becoming an Instructor at Indiana University in 1945. He had no studio of his own until ca. 1950.
23. Gray plate with abstract incised decorations by Karl Martz, 1951. Sold for $845 in 2008.
24. 12-inch diameter tan plate with white spiral and dots, 1951.
25. Gray bowl with light-hearted abstract incised design, 1951.
26. "New blue" mug, 1951.
27. Tall stoneware candlestick, 1952.
28. Earthenware bowl with abstract decorations by Karl Martz, 1952.
29. Blue pitcher with unusual form, by Karl Martz, 1953. Sold on eBay in 2006 for $787.
30. A tall bottle with handle and fish designs by Karl Martz, 1954.
31. Tall encrusted bottle by Karl Martz, 1978.
32. Small magenta vase by Karl Martz, 1978.
33. Small vase by Karl Martz, 1979.
34. Porcelain mortar and pestle by Karl Martz, 1979.
35. Small covered celadon jar with "bumps", by Karl Martz, ca. 1981.
36. Carved celadon vase by Karl Martz, ca. 1981.
37. Red vase with gray stripes by Karl Martz, ca. 1981.
38. Small blue vase with black brush strokes, by Karl Martz, 1987.
39. Small blue vase with deep blue stripes, by Karl Martz, 1987.
40. Long-necked vase by Karl Martz, 1988.
41. Small pitcher with unusual handle by Karl Martz, 1988.
42. Teapot with blue leaf decorations, by Karl Martz, 1989.
43. Two mugs by Karl Martz, 1992.
The Becky Brown Gallery of Pottery has been divided into 1942 and earlier, and 1950 and later.
Becky Brown works added to the galleries (boldface deemed by Eric to be particularly important works):
1. A cute pitcher (ca. 1938-42), previously shown under Auctions, is now also shown in the Becky Brown Gallery of Pottery.
2. Slip-cast bowl by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
3. Vase by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
4. Another vase by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
5. Yet another vase by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
6. Yet another vase by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
7. Tall vase with brown rings on neck, by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
8. Tall vase decorated with black vines, by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
9. Cream and sugar by Becky Brown, ca. 1938-42.
10. A charming sales letter for a Karl Martz 1939 vase. Linked to Becky Brown Prose.
11. Vase with frond decoration by Becky Brown, 1950.
12. Small vase with horizontal green stripes by Becky Brown, 1950.
13. Small vase or mug by Becky Brown, 1950.
14. A lovely 1951 gray vase, previously shown under Auctions, is now also shown in the Becky Brown Gallery of Urns and Rhytons. This vase inspired a Toronto artist to make a print of the vase.
15. Bust on a crazed plate by Becky Brown, 1952.
16. Gray bowl decorated with fish by Becky Brown, 1952.
17. Rectangular dish with design of blue brushstrokes by Becky Brown (undated).
18. Unusual macrame/ceramic turtle shell pocket by Becky Brown.
19. Owl by Becky Brown (undated). Offered on eBay, rare for Becky Brown sculptures.
The page on Becky Brown Buttons has been updated.
There is a new dramatic photo of Becky's 1977 Trophy Head.
There are additional photos, from multiple perspectives, of this 1975 covered jar of Karls
Back issues of Antique Week are no longer online (October, 2019) so a local copy has been provided of the
Updated Signatures and Date Codes. Some images of signatures that were not formerly linked to pages about those pieces are now linked. There is a new list of examples of Karl's use of date codes at the bottom of this page.
Linked Onya La Tour's name to the new Wikipedia article on her in Our Lives In Brown County, and at Becky's 1959 Fish Fountain.

June, 2019.

The Karl Martz Gallery has a new section (at the bottom), for the 2019 exhibit at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art.
Karl Martz pots added to galleries (6 boldface works deemed by Eric to be particularly important):
1. Colorful 1934 Karl Martz casserole made at the Brown County Pottery.
2. "Parabola" vase by Karl Martz, 1950. One of his masterpieces in Eric's opinion.
3. Large green vase by Karl Martz with leaf designs, 1954. Another of his masterpieces in Eric's opinion.
4. Tile tray by Karl Martz, probably 1950s.
5. The Karl Martz 1960's Gallery has a new sculpture.
6. Covered jar by Karl Martz in the Mingei style of Totaro Sakuma, Mashiko, Japan, 1972. Another of his masterpieces in Eric's opinion. Also installed a much better photo for this bowl in the same style. Updated the page on Totaro Sakuma.
7. Tall encrusted bottle by Karl Martz, 1978.
The Becky Brown Gallery has a new section (at the bottom), for the 2019 exhibit at the Haan Museum of Indiana Art.
Becky Brown pots added to galleries:
- Plate commemorating the 10th anniversary of The Gallery (Bloomingtion, Indiana), 1978.
- Two small polychrome vases, ca. 1938-42.
There are now 4 photos, from different perspectives, of Becky's Juggler.
Updated the description of Karl's large 1955 stoneware vase to include its former and current locations.
Updated the announcement of the exhibit at the Haan Museum. Included a link to the June 3, 2019 issue of Antique Week, which has articles on the Museum and the Exhibit.
Updated availability information on the book Clay Times Three.
Updated Publications About Karl Martz to include the 2009 book Clay Times Three and the 2019 article about the Haan Museum exhibit.
Updated the series of films Craftsmanship in Clay with links to the digitized versions, streamable online. Added the 1975 film Possibilities in Clay.

April, 2019.

Announced the exhibit Karl Martz and the Legacy of Indiana University Ceramics at the Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art, Lafayette, Indiana, USA, May 4 -- July 27, 2019. Opening reception: Friday May 3, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Also added this exhibit to Karl's Timeline under Posthumous Recognition.

October, 2018.

Added a link to Karl's 1951 film Craftsmanship in Clay - Decoration, now digitized and viewable online.

June, 2018.

Added a little more information about Victor Spinski including a link to his obituary at the American Craft Council.

March, 2018.

Added a few more items to Karl's Timeline. It still does not include all the exhibits listed in his 1977 restrospective catalog (see new note at the top of the timeline). Some of the added information came from the biography written by Theodore Bowie in 1977 for Karl's retirement retrospective. Bowie is now credited in the timeline.
Importantly, the hiring of John Goodheart as ceramics faculty in 1973 was added to Karl's Timeline and he is now included in the SiteMap.
At 1945 in Karl's Timeline, a paragraph was added about his hiring by Henry Radford Hope and the acquisition of his studio equipment by Indiana University.
1975 in Becky's Timeline was added as the year she resigned from her partnership in The Gallery.

February, 2018.

Additional biographical information about June Kapos at Students of Karl Martz.

August, 2017:

Documented Becky's jobs at Indiana University in the Economics Department (1961-67) and as Undergraduate English Advisor in the Department of English (1969-71) in her timeline. Also that it was the summer of 1969 when Karl and Becky spent the summer in Port Chester, NY.

June, 2015:

Added Richard Adams to Karl's students.
Added Karl's 1962 participation in a glass-blowing workshop taught principally by Harvey Littleton to Karl's Timeline.

February, 2014:

Added a photo of Karl throwing at the wheel in the early 1950's.
Added David Hostetler to Karl's students, along with a 1948 photo.

January 25, 2014:

Added an entirely new Site Map/Index to this website so it will be easier to find things (even for me!). Let me know if you want something included in the index.
Added a page about correspondence between notable journalist Ernie Pyle and Karl Martz.
Added a delightfully whimsical greeting card that Karl sent to Becky in 1957.
Added a wonderful account of bathing and housekeeping written by Becky in January, 1941 -- see the new section about her Prose.
Added Karl's Obituary and Becky's Obituary. Karl's includes a wonderful photo of the IU Fine Arts Faculty from 1953.
New photos were added of Karl's 191-pot "room divider" sculpture, and it was moved to the 1980's Gallery. (Previously it was incorrectly dated to the 1960's.)
Added the following pots:
- Large green plate, 1937, generously returned to the family by Maureen Falk of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Added a photo of Becky Brown and Rosemary Fraser at an opening of The Gallery in Bloomington, Indiana USA in the 1970's. See "1970-75".
Added Becky Brown Buttons on an original linoleum cut sales card (bottom of page), thanks to Fredia Liebhard and her mother Barbara Delores Marter Garotte.
Added a photo of a differently-glazed slip-cast rooster, and a better photo of a slip-cast stork.
Added Tom Marsh to Karl's students, with a nice statement from him about Karl's teaching style.
Fixed broken links to Hohenberger photos.

April 1, 2011: Included the book Clay Times Three in Karl's Timeline and Becky's Timeline.

December 14, 2009: Added Kathy McKimmie's book Clay Times Three to the main page.
October 5, 2009: Added mention of a piece by Karl in a fall 2009 exhibit at the IU Art Museum, under Posthumous Recognition at the bottom of Karl's Timeline.
June 15, 2009: I noticed that many of the new photos of works by Karl listed below for Jan-Sep 2007, and for the Midwest Museum (under Posthumous Recognition) in Karl's Timeline had never been copied to the website server. These omissions are now corrected. If you notice any broken links, please do contact me! emartz AT microbio DOT umass DOT edu
January, 2009:
- Added more complete and objective biographical sketches for Karl Martz and Becky Brown Martz (linked to the main page).
- Corrected and added information to the photo of Becky at home surrounded by her sculpture.
September, 2008: Added mention of pieces by Karl in an exhibit at Ball State University under Posthumous Recognition at the bottom of Karl's Timeline. Thanks to Ed Bicknell for telling me about this show.
July 2008: Mentioned the new exhibit of Karl and Becky's works at the Midwest Museum of American Art at the bottoms of the Karl Martz Timeline and the Becky Brown Timeline.
June 2008:
- Added more photos of Becky Brown's Unglazed brown clay textured planter and photos of the 4th Annual Depauw Ceramic Show catalog, in which it was depicted, and which dated the piece to ca. 1962.
- Added more photos of Becky Brown's Tall Triangular Vase.
- Added Becky Brown's Bust of Young Man with a Moustache.
- Added Becky Brown's bust of Karl Martz.
- Added link at the bottom of the main page to a new website that include paintings by Norman Vincent Ulery of Brown County, Indiana.
January 2008:
- Added artpotterymanufacturers.com to Studio Pottery Links.
January-September 2007:
- Added new photos of works by Karl:
  - 1930's: A B C
  - 1940's: A B C D
  - 1950's: A
  - 1970's: A B
  - 1980's: A B
- Added new photos of Karl:
  - With Totaro Sakuma and Philip Kan Gotanda (Mashiko, Japan, 1971).
- Added new photos of Becky:
  - Working at the Daisei Pottery (Mashiko, Japan, 1971).
- Added/corrected information in the Timelines for Karl (1939) and Becky (1932-34), thanks to Ginny Marsh.
- Added Posthumous Recognition to Karl's Timeline.
- Added David Berg to Karl's students.
- Added links to a new website on Gordon and Jane Marshall Martz.
November 15, 2006: Linked a 1958 poem by Karl, and added Jean M. Weakland to the students page.
November 22, 2004: Updated auction results, adding 13 auctions, making a total of 55. The new set includes the earliest KM piece auctioned, from 1934.
October 7, 2004: Added Donker and Lee to Karl's Students, and 13 Tales: Memories of Karl Martz by Stanley Lee.
February 23, 2004: Without changing its content, restructured the home page to permit faster loading via modem. Added an early slip-cast rooster.
February 21, 2004: Inspired by the opening today of Common Clay at the Indiana Historical Society, about 50 new photos of Karl Martz pots have been added, as well as new pages about Karl's patrons Scott and Ellen Murphy. There are 6 more pots from the 1930's plus a hand-painted map, 7 more pots from the 1940's, 5 more pots from the 1950's including this stunning masterpiece and this spirited nude, 3 more pots from the 1960's including a huge sculptural room divider. New galleries have been added for more recent decades including 17 pieces from the 1970's and 11 pieces from the 1980's. Some photos formerly only available in thumbnail size, particularly for the 1960's, are now linked to larger images and descriptions. Additional views were added for some pots already pictured, and some photos were brightened and color corrected, especially for the 1977 Retrospective Show. Updated the page on EBay Auctions, adding 4 sales, bringing the total represented to 42. Created a new home page.
December 7, 2003: Updated the page on EBay Auctions, adding 6 sales, bringing the total represented to 38.
November 9, 2003: Began a list of links (bottom of page).
November 8, 2003: Updated the page on EBay Auctions, adding 16 sales since early March, 2003! Auctions, now totaling 32, are newly sorted by price, date sold, or year the work was made. Auctioned works with good photos were added to gallery pages (4 to (KM 1930's; 1 to KM 1950's; 2 to BB Pottery). Two gallery pages were improved with larger thumbnail images and better organization (KM 1930's), and large-image pages for all thumbnails (KM 1950's).
March 11, 2003: Updated the page on EBay Auctions.
November 11, 2002: This update emphasizes photos of Karl and Becky, and their studios and writings, although some new photos of unusual pots were also added. Over 40 new pages were added that include over 100 new photographs. Because the additions are scattered throughout the site, rather than constituting a new branch, this list of additions is long. Added photos of Karl Martz at the Brown County Pottery (1934), the Brown County Pottery itself, photos of Karl Martz by Frank M. Hohenberger (1937-38), a new page on Karl's first studio, the Batchfield Cabin, many photos of the Pink House Showroom including over 80 pots on sale there ca. 1938-41, radioactive uranium glazes used by Karl with a new example, a carved orange molded lidded box illustrating a hitherto unrepresented signature in script, a magnificent photo of Karl with over 50 of his pots (1950), a fountain made by Karl ca. 1954, Karl's Football Bowl, Karl, Becky, and 2-year old Eric in front of the Pink House (bottom of page), Karl and Becky with George and Edie Rickey, 1953, Becky holding a platter she made 50 years earlier (bottom of page), Becky holding one of her early sculptures in 1955 (bottom of page), Gazelle with sackbut being fed by the owner's granddaughter (bottom of page), Rhyton in use by 4 Tipplers (bottom of page), a lovely sketch of Becky in 1945 (included in Becky's timeline), Brian, Eric, and Becky in 2002. Revised Karl's Timeline, included more photos in it, added links to Hull House in 1944, and added more details about Karl's early ceramics education. Added some photos of graphic art by Karl. There are eight new photos of works by Becky: 4 sculptures and 4 pots. Added Becky's personal description of Our Lives in Brown County (including a great photo of Karl as an actor in a play at the Brown County Playhouse), a new page on Karl's linoleum cuts and paintings, and a page on Karl's hitherto mysterious serial numbers on paper rectangles. Annotated the photograph of Main Street, Nashville, Indiana in 1939 and added a photo of the Nashville Post Office in 1935. Added over a dozen names to the page on Students of Karl Martz, and and a couple of unpublished writings including an unabashedly enthusiastic 1940 statement by Karl about his love for potting. Established 1957 as the year of Karl's visit to Jugtown Pottery. Updated the page on EBay Auctions. Added a little information on Gordon and Jane Martz.
February 3, 2002: Added titles and dates to many Becky Brown sculptures, urns, and pots; made some corrections in BB pots. Armed with many more dates, created a new page showing BB works arranged chronologically. Added Karl's account of his visit to Jugtown, and included his Jugtown "J" signature on his signatures page. Also another example of a KM-signed pot not by Karl Martz.
December 23, 2001: Updated Auctions.
December 10, 2001: Added BB Galleries of Urns & Production Pottery, and page on Auctions. Greatly expanded BB Galleries of Sculpture & Pottery, and BB signatures. Some new photos in BB Timeline. No major changes to KM sections.
May 16, 2001: First appearance on the web.