Object Details
Artist
Jim Melchert, born New Bremen, OH 1930-died Oakland, CA 2023
Luce Center Label
Ghost Plate with Mickey Mouse Ears is Jim Melchert’s favorite piece from a series of works created in 1964. He was inspired by a line from Ingmar Bergman’s film The Silence that reads, “One must tread carefully among the ghosts in your past.” Melchert decorated the plates and jars of this series with masks and used them to work through issues from his past. The ghost in this piece wears a Mickey Mouse hat. This is a playful image, but is also meant to evoke the humiliation of a child wearing a dunce cap.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance
Date
1964
Object number
2001.8
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Decorative Arts-Ceramic
Crafts
Medium
glazed earthenware
Dimensions
4 x 14 in. (10.2 x 35.6 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Renwick Gallery
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 54A
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Architecture\vehicle
Figure\head
Figure male\full length
Cartoon\comics\Mickey Mouse
State of being\phenomenon\occult
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_2001.8