This extremely unusual piece is composed of ash and lava from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen’s volcanic eruption. The cloud from the eruption spread lava and thick ash over an immensely large area. Artists went to work immediately memorializing this historical event by sculpting large and very heavy vessels employing elements of the debris.

This piece stands 8" high and bears a sticker on the bottom that reads, “Shapes of Clay, made with Mt. St. Helens Ash. Graham, WA.” The weight is a hefty 5 ½ pounds. The piece is in pristine condition. It is obvious that it doesn’t hold water, as the photos clearly point out.

It is classical in shape, and extremely ‘rough hewn.’ It gains its very strong character and feeling from this characteristic. The vase is a wonderful conversation piece and the onlooker would be immediately intrigued by its look and construction. There is obviously no other pottery constructed of a material of this nature and it is a wonderful collector’s item.

It will bring endless questions from guests and friends. It needs its own rather large space to be effective and would not mix in any circumstance with other pieces.  These works have since become collector’s items, and have a high premium due to their scarcity. This piece is a wonderful ‘find’ for any serious collector.

CODE #6 – 66