gravityrules
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You just never know what will turn up at a garage sale!
So I spot this obviously well made vase in the original box but I thought the asking price was a bit high ... told my son about it and we came back by in the afternoon and it was still there so he buys it for considerably less than the original price. Although he expects to make some on the re-sell, the real fun was figuring out the 'back story' for the vase.
The vase is marked "Olympia Award Series I 27/330" on the bottom. What I can remember of the seller's story (lesson for me, pay closer attention to any info a seller provides, they may be some valuable clues) is that she worked for Southland Corporation several years ago, this was found and given to her after the company had moved to different facilities. She thought it had something to do with the Olympics.
Here's the information that I was able to figure out from various internet references:
"The Olympia Award" was commissioned by The Southland Corporation (parent company of 7 Eleven, headquartered in Dallas, Texas) in 1982 and sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee to be presented to athletes in the 31 summer and winter Olympic sports who excel in athletics, leadership and scholarship.
I don't know how many were actually presented but I found news accounts from 1982 to 1985 of at least 25 presentations made to U.S. Olympic athletes, including familiar names like Mary Lou Retton and Greg Lougainis.
The award is a 16" tall limited edition amphora or vase, and is said to be a reproduction of a 523 BC Greek Panathenaic amphora. Panathenaic amphoras were given to the victors in the ancient Greek competitions. I can't say if the figures on this amphora are the exact representation of a single ancient Greek Panathenaic amphora, but the amphora faithfully reproduces the form and subject matter in the black figure technique of the originals. There are 5 activities represented on the vase as well as Athena.
This amphora was produced by Dan Hammett in his private studio "Handcrafted Ceramics" and is numbered 27 of 330. Dan has been a Professor of Ceramics at the University of Dallas since 1974 and he is regarded as a master of ceramics and has mentored many artists in this medium.
I think this piece is hand thrown. It has an oak display base and the original box
I don't know if this was actually awarded to an athlete or if this vase was an 'extra' after the Olympia Award program was ended.
From a 'local history' perspective this has a strong tie to Dallas, Texas as both the sponsoring company and the creator are from the area.
Do you think this has more interest or value as an art piece or as an Olympic award?
So I spot this obviously well made vase in the original box but I thought the asking price was a bit high ... told my son about it and we came back by in the afternoon and it was still there so he buys it for considerably less than the original price. Although he expects to make some on the re-sell, the real fun was figuring out the 'back story' for the vase.
The vase is marked "Olympia Award Series I 27/330" on the bottom. What I can remember of the seller's story (lesson for me, pay closer attention to any info a seller provides, they may be some valuable clues) is that she worked for Southland Corporation several years ago, this was found and given to her after the company had moved to different facilities. She thought it had something to do with the Olympics.
Here's the information that I was able to figure out from various internet references:
"The Olympia Award" was commissioned by The Southland Corporation (parent company of 7 Eleven, headquartered in Dallas, Texas) in 1982 and sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee to be presented to athletes in the 31 summer and winter Olympic sports who excel in athletics, leadership and scholarship.
I don't know how many were actually presented but I found news accounts from 1982 to 1985 of at least 25 presentations made to U.S. Olympic athletes, including familiar names like Mary Lou Retton and Greg Lougainis.
The award is a 16" tall limited edition amphora or vase, and is said to be a reproduction of a 523 BC Greek Panathenaic amphora. Panathenaic amphoras were given to the victors in the ancient Greek competitions. I can't say if the figures on this amphora are the exact representation of a single ancient Greek Panathenaic amphora, but the amphora faithfully reproduces the form and subject matter in the black figure technique of the originals. There are 5 activities represented on the vase as well as Athena.
This amphora was produced by Dan Hammett in his private studio "Handcrafted Ceramics" and is numbered 27 of 330. Dan has been a Professor of Ceramics at the University of Dallas since 1974 and he is regarded as a master of ceramics and has mentored many artists in this medium.
I think this piece is hand thrown. It has an oak display base and the original box
I don't know if this was actually awarded to an athlete or if this vase was an 'extra' after the Olympia Award program was ended.
From a 'local history' perspective this has a strong tie to Dallas, Texas as both the sponsoring company and the creator are from the area.
Do you think this has more interest or value as an art piece or as an Olympic award?
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