FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS A VERY HANDSOME MATT SURFACED VASE WITH UNDERGLAZE OXIDE PENCIL DRAWING BY F. CARLTON BALL (1911 - 1992).  IT IS A STUNNING DEPICTION OF A PINE TREE FOREST WITH CHAPARRAL, WONDERFUL BOULDER FORMATIONS AND RECEDING MOUNTAIN RANGES.  IT IS DONE IN A VERY REALISTIC MANNER MUCH LIKE AN OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS WHEREAS SOME OF HIS OTHER WORKS ARE QUITE THE OPPOSITE AND ARE VERY SIMPLE YET VERY POWERFUL AND DRAMATIC (SEE PHOTO #6).  IT IS UNSIGNED BUT VERY CHARACTERISTIC OF F. C. BALL'S WORK.  I HAVE FOUND THAT ABOUT 10% OF HIS WORK IS UNSIGNED AND QUITE A FEW OTHERS ARE SIGNED AFTER THE FIRING HAS BEEN COMPLETED WITH PEN, PENCIL OR SOMETHING ELSE.  MR. BALL WAS ONE OF THE GREAT POWERHOUSES OF 20TH CENTURY POTTERY.  HE WORKED WITH MANY OTHER FAMOUS POTTERS FROM THIS PERIOD.  ONE EXAMPLE IS THAT HE ASSISTED MARGUERITE WILDENHAIN IN ESTABLISHING HER SCHOOL OF CERAMIC DESIGN, POND FARM, IN GUERNEVILLE, CALIFORNIA .  HE IS REPRESENTED IN MANY MUSEUMS INCLUDING THE SMITHSONIAN AND THE AMERICAN CRAFT MUSEUM.   THIS VASE HAS A DIAMETER OF 5 INCHES BY     13 3/4 INCHES  HIGH AND MAKES A STRONG IMPRESSION.   (I HAVE INCLUDED SOME ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF OTHER WORK I HAVE LISTED.)    (C - 537)