William Joseph "Bill" Freeman (American, 1927-2012), untitled pottery vessel, ca. mid 20th century CE, signed "Bill Freeman" on shoulder. A wonderful pottery vessel of a broad dramatically corseted, nearly closed form (save the narrow mouth), with a rounded but stable bottom, a raised central rim, and three wild felines, perhaps bobcats or lynx, magnificently delineated in bas relief - with spotted coats, long tails, beady eyes, and open roaring mouths - running around the shoulder. Freeman skillfully rendered these wild cats to display energetic poses that imply motion, sleekness, and great speed. In addition, he finished the vessel to appear as if it aged gracefully. A very special piece - truly the cat's meow, or roar in this case! Size: 11.25" in diameter x 3.875" H (28.6 cm x 9.8 cm)
Bill Freeman grew up in West Texas on a farm just outside of El Paso. Interestingly, he worked as a horse wrangler, fought forest fires for the U.S. Forest Service, and was a field researcher and guide for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for twelve years in Arizona, Wyoming, and New Mexico prior to becoming an artist. It was not until the age of 30 that Freeman decided to become an artist specializing in Western landscapes. Today he is considered a pioneer of Western art centered on such storied locales as Scottsdale, Arizona and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. In addition to paintings, he creates wonderful bronze sculptures of the West's wildlife as well as more unusual sculptural works like this example.
Provenance: Former Private Keystone, Colorado, USA collection, gifted
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#153187
Condition
Excellent. Signed "Bill Freeman" on the shoulder.