SKU: 85400290386

WILLIAM & POLIA PILLIN FLAMBÉ BOWL OR CACHEPOT

Sale price$371.70 Regular price$413.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $103.25 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 20 - Jul 25

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

WILLIAM & POLIA PILLIN FLAMBÉ BOWL OR CACHEPOTA stunning, orange and yellow, triangular flamb bowl or cachepot by William and Polia Pillin. In excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks, or crazing! POLIA PILLIN (19091992) was a Polish American painter and potter during the previous century, best known for distinctive, highly crazed, hand painted ceramics, often produced in collaboration with her husband Bill. She was born Polia Sukonic in Czstochowa, Poland, to a talented family of

A stunning, orange and yellow, triangular flambé bowl or cachepot by William and Polia Pillin. In excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks, or crazing!

POLIA PILLIN (1909–1992) was a Polish-American painter and potter during the previous century, best known for distinctive, highly crazed, hand-painted ceramics, often produced in collaboration with her husband Bill. She was born Polia Sukonic in Częstochowa, Poland, to a talented family of weavers, potters, and coppersmiths. Sent to live in Chicago at fifteen in 1924—near the tail-end of the mass migration of Eastern European Jews to the US—she worked long hours in the garment industry during the day and took night classes in painting and sculpture at the local Jewish People’s Institute. In 1927 a cousin introduced her to William “Bill” Pillin (1910–1985), a fellow émigré whose family had settled in Chicago after fleeing pogroms in the Ukraine. They were married that year.

Bill aspired to become a published poet, and an opportunity arose during the Depression for him to secure a job with the Federal Writers’ Project. The travel involved took him all across the US, including the Southwest. In 1936 he returned with Polia to New Mexico, and they moved onto a sixteen-acre farm outside of Albuquerque. Conditions were harsh, with the closest water source several miles away, but they found the isolation inspiring. After the birth of their son Boris in 1940, however, the Pillins decided to rejoin civilization, and they moved back to Chicago. (During his lifetime, Bill’s verse would appear in over 100 literary reviews, and he would publish nine, well-received collections of work.)

Bill found a position in book publishing in Chicago that paid enough to support the family. This allowed Polia to explore painting in watercolor and oil full-time. Her one-woman exhibition at the Chicago Art Institute drew favorable notices and the attention of the Sun-Times. During the show, Polia became fascinated by the Institute’s pottery display, and, in 1946, she took a six-week course in ceramics at Chicago’s Hull House. She fired pieces in the kilns there until the facility was repurposed for the rehabilitation of returning WWII veterans. Polia then moved her fledgling business to the Pillin apartment, with a wheel and an improvised kiln in the kitchen. During these studio-in-the-kitchen years, she taught Bill how to make pots. Polia never stopped throwing pots herself and always did all of the painting.

Polia's decoration technique involved adding oxides to slip (watery clay) in various intensities and combinations to develop a palette of extraordinary range. With these slurries, she painted her ethereal images of women, cats, horses, and birds on greenware (unfired) pots. Chagall-like in color, her women dance, play instruments, ponder, and ride. Interestingly there are no children, houses, meals, or other signs of ordinary domesticity. Polia double-fired her decorated pots using a transparent glaze to produce a high-gloss finish. The Byzantine flavor of Pillins’ work has often been noted.

The couple’s endeavors soon outgrew the space, and, in 1948, they moved to Los Angeles. They purchased a modest home with a garage where the Pillin Art Pottery Company was born. At some point in the ’60s, they experimented with using molds to keep up with demand—they were selling pieces as fast as they could make them—but even then, both Polia and Bill continued to throw pots. More than 95% of their work is highly crazed. This should not surprise, as the small studio did not have a team of chemists or the special equipment available to large commercial operations.

Although the vast majority of the Pillin Art Pottery was produced in California, there are early examples from the Chicago kitchen studio. These rare pieces will usually be marked with a “46“ or “47“ for the year. Some works can be found with an inscribed “W + P” above the Pillin signature. This was an early indication that Bill had thrown the piece and Polia had decorated it, a practice that later became commonplace. Practically all Pillin Art Pottery is marked with a stylized “Pillin” signature in black. There was some amount of variation and evolution in the signature; close inspection can sometimes help to date pieces. Earlier pieces tend to be thicker in construction. Nearly all Pillin pottery is made from a distinctive red brick-colored clay.

Polia made her last known piece in 1991, a year before her death. No production records were ever kept, and most pieces were unique, so no catalog of her work would ever be complete. The total output of pottery from Polia is hard even to estimate.

Pottery from Polia Pillin is held in the collections of the Dallas Museum of Fine Art and the Syracuse Museum of Fine Art. Pillin pieces remain highly collectible with prices starting in the high hundreds and many in the thousands.


. . .Humble clay becomes a medium for painting. The limit of which is defined only by the zeal and inspiration of the artist. – POLIA PILLIN


“TO A CUSTOMER” by William Pillin

If you dislike our pot, mister,
Go buy from another.

But don't stand there with a turned-up nose,
you bastard!

I labored in shaping the slender amphora
and Polia designed a small alleluia on it.

Go now.
Your shadow lingers over the highlights.


DETAILS

Designer – POLIA PILLIN

Design Period/Year – 1960s

Maker – PILLIN ART POTTERY

Production Period/Year – 1960s

Origin – USA

Styles/Movements – ABSTRACT; MID-CENTURY MODERN

Materials – CERAMIC

Colors – BURNT ORANGE, ORANGE

Condition – Excellent vintage condition. May show minor signs of previous ownership and use.

Dimensions – 7 ½" DIAM. × 6 ⅛" H

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 85400290386

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 30 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
R
Verified Purchase
. Ray
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful shelves
Color: Rustic Brown + Black
Love these shelves
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jimfo
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Worth the money
Size: Large-3SET
This 3-piece pre-oiled bamboo cutting board isfantastic. The carbonized bamboo gives them a rich, warm tone that looks much nicer than standard cutting boards. I really appreciate the variety of sizes. They feel sturdy without being too heavy, and they stay in place well while cutting. Cleanup is easy too—just a quick wash and they’re good to go, with no lingering odors or stains. Overall, this set offers excellent quality, functionality, and value. Great for everyday cooking and a solid upgrade from plastic boards.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jinx
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
The Best buy for my kitchen
Size: Large-3SET, Size: Large-3SET
Great quality cutting boards! The carbonized bamboo feels durable yet lightweight, and they look beautiful in the kitchen. I love that they come pre-oiled and are non-toxic. The three sizes are super practical, and the hanging hole is a nice bonus. Definitely a great buy!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Erika
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
High quality, eco-friendly, and beautiful!
Size: Large-3SET, Size: Large-3SET
I’m obsessed with this set! The carbonized finish looks stunning on my counter, and I love that they are non-toxic and eco-friendly. They came pre-oiled and ready to use, and the different sizes are perfect for everything from meal prep to serving charcuterie. The juice grooves are a total game-changer for keeping my counters clean. Definitely worth it for any busy kitchen!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2026
J
Verified Purchase
Jay
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great quality bamboo cutting boards
Size: Large-3SET
These cutting boards are very well made and feel solid. The bamboo is smooth, nicely finished, and already pre-oiled, which is a big plus. I like having three different sizes — it makes food prep much easier depending on what I’m cutting. They look good on the counter, don’t slide around much during use, and clean easily with a quick wash. For the price, the quality is excellent. I would definitely recommend these if you’re looking for durable, eco-friendly cutting boards for everyday kitchen use.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2026

recommand products