Figural Planters Deel, Kathleen

Name: Figural Planters Deel, Kathleen
Price: 20.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Deel, Kathleen
ISBN: 9780887409707

✍️ Deel, Kathleen

☆ Reader reviews: none yet — be the first

20 $

📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

What arcane energies lie dormant within common ceramic figures?

This unique compendium delves into the often-overlooked realm of mid-century figural vessels, revealing their potential as conduits for unseen forces. Kathleen Deel meticulously catalogs hundreds of these imported ceramic effigies, from serene feminine forms to playful child-like representations and iconic nursery characters. Beyond their decorative surface, these objects, originally intended for floral display, whisper tales of folk magic, sympathetic charm, and the subtle energies they might hold. Discover the hidden symbolism and cultural echoes embedded in these charming, yet potent, household artifacts, inviting a fresh perspective on collecting and animistic connections.

Key themes

{'title': 'Animistic Vessels', 'body': "Deel's extensive catalog implicitly argues for the inherent spirit within crafted objects. By showcasing the vast array of human and symbolic forms, the book prompts us to consider these planters not merely as inert decor, but as potential homes or representations for nature spirits, protective entities, or ancestral energies, waiting to be acknowledged."} {'title': 'Sympathetic Magic', 'body': 'The myriad figures—from nurturing mothers to playful children—illustrate how everyday objects can serve as focal points for intention. This volume subtly explores how these representations, often associated with specific emotional states or archetypes, could be unknowingly employed in folk practices for drawing love, protection, or abundance into the domestic sphere.'} {'title': 'Modern Fetishes', 'body': 'Focusing on items imported since the 1950s, the work illuminates how mass-produced ceramics can still absorb and emanate significance. It suggests a contemporary form of fetishism, where ordinary household items, through their figural nature and collective cultural memory, become imbued with an unexpected power, bridging the mundane and the magical.'}

In stock

🏛 Schiffer Publishing 📅 1997 📖 160 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780887409707

Fun fact

This unexpected gem transcends its apparent subject, offering a fascinating visual lexicon for anyone exploring the animistic potential of everyday objects. While Kathleen Deel's original intent was cataloging, her meticulous documentation inadvertently provides a rich resource for those seeking to understand sympathetic magic and modern folk fetishism. It excels in breadth but might disappoint readers seeking explicit magical instruction. Its true value lies in prompting a profound re-evaluation of the 'inanimate' objects that populate our lives, placing it uniquely at the intersection of material culture and esoteric inquiry.

📝 Description: Figural Planters Deel, Kathleen

If you love collecting and are looking for a new collectible, this book is for you! Pictured are hundreds of planters imported since the 1950s, mainly for use by the floral industry. From lovely ladies in brightly colored Christmas and Valentine dresses to little boys playing baseball, there is something for everyone in this book. A large section is devoted to baby vases, as well as nursery rhyme characters and loveable Raggedy Ann and Andys. The accumulation of several years of extensive searching by the author, the book does justice to the amazing variety and ingenious design of these planters. Separated into specific categories with many lovely examples of each type of vase illustrated, this book will take you on an extended journey into the world of imported figural planters.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books — add yours →

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.4/5

★★★★★

For the discerning collector who seeks magic in the mundane, the animist who sees spirit in every object, or anyone fascinated by the subtle power of folk art and domestic enchantments. Uncover the secret life of everyday artifacts.

Reader rating

Reviews yet. Be the first!

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely. While not explicitly a grimoire, it provides an invaluable visual compendium of potential sympathetic magic tools and spirit houses, inspiring creative integration into personal practice. It's a resource for finding meaning in the overlooked.

Deel focuses on cataloging their physical forms and historical prevalence in the floral industry. However, the sheer variety and specific archetypes presented open rich avenues for personal interpretation regarding their inherent or projected magical significance and folklore.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Animistic Vessels

Deel's extensive catalog implicitly argues for the inherent spirit within crafted objects. By showcasing the vast array of human and symbolic forms, the book prompts us to consider these planters not merely as inert decor, but as potential homes or representations for nature spirits, protective entities, or ancestral energies, waiting to be acknowledged.

Sympathetic Magic

The myriad figures—from nurturing mothers to playful children—illustrate how everyday objects can serve as focal points for intention. This volume subtly explores how these representations, often associated with specific emotional states or archetypes, could be unknowingly employed in folk practices for drawing love, protection, or abundance into the domestic sphere.

Modern Fetishes

Focusing on items imported since the 1950s, the work illuminates how mass-produced ceramics can still absorb and emanate significance. It suggests a contemporary form of fetishism, where ordinary household items, through their figural nature and collective cultural memory, become imbued with an unexpected power, bridging the mundane and the magical.

💬 Quotes from the book

«Here, a serene porcelain lady, her gaze fixed and timeless, holds not flowers but the potential for quiet contemplation, a vessel for domestic harmony.»

«The collection of child-like figures, from playful baseball players to classic nursery rhyme characters, speaks to their enduring role as guardians of innocence or conduits for ancestral child spirits.»

📜 Historical context

While seemingly about modern collectibles, this work resonates with ancient traditions of creating effigies and spirit vessels. From Egyptian Ushabti to African Nkisi figures, humanity has long imbued crafted forms with purpose. Deel's catalog offers a contemporary lens on this timeless practice, examining how mass-produced figures continue to carry symbolic weight, echoing ancestral reverence for objects.

📚 Glossary

Effigy
Animism
Sympathetic Magic

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider an object in your home you feel has a 'spirit.' How do its form and history contribute to that feeling?
If you were to create a figural vessel for a specific magical intention (e.g., protection, love), what form would it take and why?
How might the mass production of symbolic objects in the modern era affect their energetic resonance compared to handcrafted items?