A key member of the "Montana Modernists" - Frances Senska (1914 - 2009) is now considered a key American ceramicist of the twentieth century. As founder and leader of the ceramics program at Montana State University in Bozeman (1946 - 1972) she fostered the talents of many artists including Peter Voulkas and Rudy Autio. In addition Frances was a founder of the Archie Bray Foundation of Ceramic Arts. Her ceramics where full-circle creations. Frances dug her own soil and clay, decorated with personally created glazes, and fired using her own proprietary techniques. Now highly coveted and collected, her work is in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Library of Congress, and Princeton University.
 
This wine set was Inspired by her childhood in Cameroon Africa. Called "YA BA BO" which means  "it will be nine". The luckiest number In the Cameroon culture. Appropriate given that this set was purchased from the artist herself and given as a wedding present. 
 
Double spouted wine carafe ewer pitcher and nine cups were hand-thrown and crafted in stoneware. The carafe is decorated with painted blue floral medallions on two sides. And amber-gold leaves with blue berries on the other two. All on an "oatmeal" beige gray background. Each cup is decorated on one side with the same blue floral medallions with the leaf and berry pattern on the other. Cup interiors are glazed in a deep, dark brown. Carafe bottom features distinctive "orange juicer" fluted pattern embossed with "FS" and a circle star burst.
 
Carafe measures 9" high x 7.5" wide x 5" deep.
Each cup measures approximately 2.75" high x 2.75" diameter.
 
In excellent condition with no chips, cracks, scratches, or glaze loss.