Volkmar, Charles, 1841-1914

Charles Volkmar was a painter, etcher, and potter. He studied in France with Antoine Louis Bazre and Henri Harpignes for about 15 years and then worked in the New York City area for many years. At first a landscape and animal painter, Volkmar later became a potter and is best known for his art pottery.

Ceramist, painter.

Born in Baltimore, Charles Volkmar received his early art training at the Maryland Institute. He moved to Paris, where he studied landscape painting with Henri Harpignies in the 1860's. His paintings were exhibited in the Paris salons of the 1870's. He studied pottery painting and tile making in France, working as an apprentice at the Haviland factory. Returning to the United States, Charles built a kiln at Greenpoint, Long Island, in 1879 where he produced tiles and vases. He was the first potter to use underglaze slip painting in the United States. His son, Leon, was an accomplished potter and formed a partnership with his father. When the kiln was moved to Metuchen, New Jersey, the name was changed to Charles Volkmar and Son. In 1911 the partnership dissolved and Leon moved to Bedford, New York; established Durant kilns and devoted much time to glaze experimentation.