Margaret Kelly Cable is remembered as the heart and soul of UND Pottery. She was a nationally known clay artist, teacher, and researcher at the University of North Dakota from 1910 to 1949. Pottery made under her tutelage, and bearing the cobalt blue School of Mines seal, has become a valued symbol of her legacy. This hand-thrown/hand-carved vase was done by one of its students, Lena Richstieg (1953-54), whose dates fall outside the "collectable" range, but I think this vase is still a lovely example of this pottery. Like Newcome College pottery, UND pottery was also jury selected for sale. The seal was developed by Cable to identify the work produced at the University. The first known seal was hand lettered in cobalt blue on the bottom of a small flower vase in 1912. By 1913 all pieces of any significance---pottery, figurines, tiles, medallions and frequently commercial production samples---bore the stamp of the University of North Dakota, School of Mines seal. The popularity of the Ceramics Department, School of Mines "art pottery" flourished under Cable's guidance and the Art Nouveau/Art Deco style of pottery was largely replaced by native flora and fauna motifs, as with this "oak leaf" vase, and regional themes. Some painted but mostly sgraffito or carving techniques were used for surface treatment. The crocus, prairie rose, buffalo, flickertail, ox cart, covered wagons, Indians, and cowboys on horseback became common images.
