The memories of the things Clementine Hunter loved and observed during her life on the Melrose Plantation are portrayed on this lovely collection we recently had fun displaying. Her famous paintings of cotton pickings, washdays, pecan pickings, weddings, baptisms, funerals and other scenes of life on Melrose have made her works an important part of American history. The Clementine Hunter ceramic collection is entirely made by hand and hand-painted. No two pieces are alike. Each piece has its own distinctive shape whose textured surface allows you to feel the passion in her work. Hang them on your wall, display them on your bookshelf, use them as a centerpiece for your table or make them your favorite serving pieces for any occasion.
Shown above is "BAPTISM ON CANE RIVER" Clementine Hunter depicts the ritual of baptizing new church members in the Cane River. This was always a celebrated event in Natchitoches, Louisiana. "PICKING AND HAULING COTTON" Clementine shows picking cotton and hauling the cotton to the gin on a horse drawn cart. "COTTON WAGON" Clementine records the horse drawn wagon hauling cotton from the fields to the gin as it was done for hundreds of years prior to mechanization coming to agriculture. "PECAN PICKING" Clementine depicts the large pecan trees and the hard work of thrashing the trees and bending down to pick up the pecans.
"ZINNIAS LOOKING AT YOU" Each summer the Zinnias were in bloom at Melrose Plantation. Zinnias were Clementine Hunter's favorite flower.
"GOOSTER HAULING FLOWERS" Clementine Hunter has a Gooster hauling a cart of Zinnias, her favorite flower.
Louisiana’s most famous artist, Clementine Hunter, was born in 1886 at Hidden Hill Plantation below Cloutierville, Louisiana. At a young age, Clementine moved to Melrose Plantation where she lived and worked until her death in 1988 at age 101. Clementine first worked in the cotton fields and pecan groves until Miss Cammie Henry, the owner of Melrose, brought her into the "Big House" to clean and cook. It was here that she came in contact with visiting writers and artists, including New Orleans artist Alberta Kinsley, whose work inspired Clementine to try painting. Without formal training, she produced colorful memory paintings that captured every day life on Melrose Plantation. Her paintings are recognized as a narrative telling the story of plantation life during the time before mechanization came to agriculture. Her pictures of cotton pickings, washdays, pecan pickings, weddings, baptisms, funerals and other scenes of life on Melrose, have made her works coveted around the world. Clementine Hunter is considered one of the most important self-taught American artists of the 20th century. Her works can be seen in the Smithsonian Institution, The American Folk Art Museum and countless other museums and private collections.
With every purchase made, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Clementine Hunter's estate to further promote Clementine Hunter. All ceramics are food, microwave and dishwasher safe.
