Archives of American Art

Charles Volkmar papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.volkchar
Creators:
Volkmar, Charles, 1841-1914
Dates:
1827-1985
Languages:
Carl Volkmar family papers are in German.
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear feet
(on 1 microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Printed material, biographical material, correspondence, and photographs (ca. 1860-1920) documenting the Volkmar family's involvement in the development of the ceramics industry in northeastern America. The collection focuses on Charles Volkmar but the careers of Carl, Leon (1879-1959), and Charles Volkmar, Sr. (1809-1892) are also documented. Material on Charles Volkmar includes correspondence (1897-1915), notes and writings, clippings (1872-1913), articles, 2 sketchbooks, and prints and drawings. In the original 41-page typed draft of his reminiscences, Charles Volkmar writes of his flight to Europe at the outbreak of the civil war, the life of American artists in Paris, studying landscape painting under Henri Harpignies, the work of Jean-Francois Millet and Charles Emile Jacque, and his work painting pottery and tiles in France, after which he returned to the United States and went into the ceramics business. Leon Volkmar's correspondence (1901-1953) and printed materials discuss the business, artistic and family traditions of the ceramics industry. Photographs depict Leon, his family, the Volkmar Pottery and the tiles and ceramics they produced. Carl Volkmar's family papers, documents (1827-1838) and a notebook are all in German.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Ceramicist, painter. Born in Baltimore, Charles Volkmar received his early art training at the Maryland Institute. He moved to Paris, where he studied landscape painting with Henri Harpignies in the 1860's. His paintings were exhibited in the Paris salons of the 1870's. He studied pottery painting and tile making in France, working as an apprentice at the Haviland factory. Returning to the United States, Charles built a kiln at Greenpoint, Long Island, in 1879 where he produced tiles and vases. He was the first potter to use underglaze slip painting in the United States. His son, Leon, was an accomplished potter and formed a partnership with his father. When the kiln was moved to Metuchen, New Jersey, the name was changed to Charles Volkmar and Son. In 1911 the partnership dissolved and Leon moved to Bedford, New York; established Durant kilns and devoted much time to glaze experimentation.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 4391 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals returned to the lender, Mrs. Susan Volkmar, after microfilming.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Papers were lent by Susan Volkmar, the wife of Peter Volkmar, great-grandson of Charles Volkmar.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Decorative arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ceramicists -- United States Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ceramics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harpignies, Henri, 1819-1916 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jacque, Charles Emile, 1813-1894 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Millet, Jean François, 1814-1875 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Volkmar, Carl Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Volkmar, Charles, 1809-1892 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Volkmar, Leon, 1879-1959 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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