{"id":503,"date":"2014-06-20T19:41:23","date_gmt":"2014-06-21T02:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.curiousclay.com\/?p=503"},"modified":"2015-03-07T20:35:12","modified_gmt":"2015-03-08T04:35:12","slug":"phoenix-table-by-taylor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.curiousclay.com\/?p=503","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Table by Taylor"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Phoenix<\/a>This is my second phoenix bird (the first one is the linoleum wrought iron table<\/a>), and I am quite fond of this one. Like many others in my collection it was created by Taylor Tilery (1930 - 1941), but it's a very rare and exceptionally well-executed design. Taylor had quite a number of different bird murals (jays, parrots, birds of paradise, pheasants), and this one is the best.<\/p>\n

Four large cuerda seca tiles create an incredible Art Deco image of a phoenix (or a pheasant? or a bird of paradise?) perched on a flowering branch against a background of blue and orange stripes. Taylor used matte glazes for this mural; most other bird murals are executed in glossy glazes. It's bright and lively yet very tasteful.<\/p>\n

The woodwork is quite elaborate as well. The tiles are set into a mahogany frame with carved borders; underneath there are carved Art Deco aprons and stretchers connecting turned legs.<\/p>\n

This particular design, while undeniably Taylor, is not listed in their catalog. It does, however, appear on page 261 of the Encyclopedia of American Art Tiles, Region 6<\/em>. It's also shown on page 186 of the California Revival<\/em>, albeit in a slightly different color scheme.<\/p>\n

This table must have been cherished by its previous owners as the tiles are in perfect condition, with some minor age-related crazing.<\/p>\n