Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2022.038.002 |
Object Name |
Wig, Bob |
Title |
Stangl Pottery Ceramic Base Wig Stand |
Description |
The ceramic wig stand is designed to resemble a Caucasian woman's head, attached to a dark brown circular base. The "woman" features a long neck, a red and brown necklace, red lips, no nose, two brown eyes with thick eyelashes, two brown eyebrows, and a dark brown bob haircut. The necklace consists of two red lines with numerous red and brown circles in between. Her bob haircut has bangs across her forehead, with curls on both sides, and the brush strokes in her hair are very visible. Neither of her ears is visible. The bottom of the ceramic piece is completely white with a thick rim, and there is a circular hole in the center of the base. According to Stanglpottery.org, the company's origins trace back to 1814 when Hill Pottery was founded in Flemington, New Jersey. The company evolved over the years, particularly under Abram Fulper's ownership in the 1860s, transitioning from earthenware to stoneware. In 1910, Martin Stangl joined the company and later became its president after Fulper's death in 1928. Stangl Pottery, as it was known after 1955, became famous for its hand-printed dinnerware and innovations like VaseKraft vases. By the 1940s, Stangl pottery was highly popular, but the company closed in November 1978. According to Susan Eastman of the Herald Times, Stangl's significance in American ceramics includes creating the first open-stock solid-color dinnerware and popularizing the practice of demonstrating pottery in public spaces, such as department stores. The company also pioneered "jobbing" ceramic parts for other manufacturers. According to Stangl Pottery by Harvey Duke, the idea for wig stands like this one originated with Martin Stangl. Initially, they were made exclusively for a wig store in New York but eventually became available at other stores and for retail. These wig stands stand 15 inches tall, with "head" sizes measuring 22 1/2 inches in length. The earliest wig stands, such as this one, featured a wooden base, while later versions sold at Flemington had a ceramic base. Every wig stand produced by Stangl was hand-painted by Irene Sarnecki. The stands typically feature women with blonde or brunette hair, with some models appearing to have red hair. The blonde-haired versions are much rarer than the brunette ones. 1968 was the only year these wig stands were produced. Citations: Eastman, S. (2019, August 23). HT.Stangl Art Pottery. Times. https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/lifestyle/home-garden/2019/08/23/htstangl-art-pottery/46939119/ Duke, H. (1993). Stangl Pottery. Stangl Pottery Flemington New Jersey. (n.d.). https://stanglpottery.org/ |
Date |
1968 |
Material |
Ceramic |
Artist |
Stangl Pottery |
Height (in) |
15.000 |
Length (in) |
6.500 |
Width (in) |
5.500 |
Condition |
Good |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Abrasions and accretions throughout. Front: There are two abrasions on top near the middle and right. Also, there are tiny white accretions all over the base. Right Side: There are two abrasions on the wig near the middle and right sides. There are two black accretions on the neck on the center near the middle. There is a brown accretion where the neck meets the base near the left side. There are two abrasions on the bottom of the neck near the left side. And finally, there are white accretions all over the base. Back: There is slight paint bleeding where the neck meets the base. There are white accretions all over the base. Left Side: There are white accretions all over the base. Top: There are tiny white accretions all over the top of the head. Bottom: There are abrasions, wear, green accretions, and clear accretions all over the base. |
People |
Abram Fulper William Fulper II Martin Stangl Samuel Hill Irene Sarnecki |
Classification |
Domestic Life/Household Goods Business & Commerce |
Subjects |
Ceramic industry Hair Wigs Women Heads (Anatomy) |
Search Terms |
Wig Woman Bob Laura Poll Stangl Hair Women Woman Cauasian Eyelashes Brown Lips Lipstick Necklace Stangle Trenton America Neck Head 1968 20th Century Ceramic Abram Fulper William Fulper II Martin Stangl Samuel Hill Irene Sarnecki Circular Stangl pottery Hill Pottery Fulper Pottery Stangl Pottery Ceramic Base Wig Stand |
Provenance |
This item was originally bought by Laura Poll and donated to the Trenton Free Public Library in October of 2022. Laura Poll was later reimbursed for her purchase. It became apart of the Museum Collection on October of 2022 |