David Gil ‘Spark’ Vase Nr. 1998 for Bennington Potters – Vermont

A black Bennington Potters “Spark” vase, model number 1998, designed in the 1960s by David Gil. They came in several sizes, of which this is the second largest. All of them are characterized by the cut-out asterisk-shaped opening on the top, which aids in arranging flowers while echoing the company’s backstamp. This remarkably modernist “functional art” piece measures 8.5″ tall x 5.5″ in diameter. It is in excellent vintage condition.

DAVID GIL graduated from Alfred University, renowned even then for its ceramics program; Gil relocated from New York City to Bennington, Vermont, where he founded “Bennington Potters.” He began his life’s work there in 1948. For years, Gil lived and worked in a small Bennington barn just one block from Route 9. In this rustic structure, heated only by the pottery kiln, Gil designed and created pottery for everyday use. “Bennington Potters” began with a mission. David Gil, founder and owner-operator from 1948 through 2002, was determined to design and bring beautiful, well-made ceramics to market in a production context. His artistry, technical creativity, commitment, and tenacity were the driving forces behind his vision and built the remarkable company that survives and thrives to this day. This potter thoughtfully blended form and function, focusing on valuable objects that wed the artist’s eye and craftsman’s hand. In 1961, Potters’ Yard moved to the spacious 4-1/2 acre site where it is now located. Demonstrating a talent that few knew he possessed, Gil retrofitted the buildings and equipment for his needs, a process common today but not prevalent at the start of the 1960s. Even the grounds reflected his design sense, where a life-long goal included saving every tree and bit of natural beauty. The collapse of a building’s roof, lean times, and even devastating fires did not dampen the spirits of this resilient artist. David Gil’s approach to business was a robust example of Yankee ingenuity and frugal persistence. Gil’s work is showcased in museums in the United States and abroad. He received several citations, including the Vermont Small Businessman of the Year Award in 1974 and the Vermont Small Business and Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1998.

Inspired by David and his legacy — a sacred cargo now in their hands — those who worked with him continue along this path. Founder David Gil created the Bennington Potters signature back stamp early in his career by combining two stylized elements to form a single whole. Gil believed that his work resulted from a creative hand guided by the spark of inspiration, and the back stamp he designed was a visual representation of this belief. Sometimes mistaken for the outline of a fork, the vertical element of the Bennington Potters back stamp is actually the shape of a hand and lower arm. Look carefully; you can see the wrist, thumb, and four fingers. The smaller symbol, a six-petaled burst, represents the inspirational “spark” expressed through the hand’s actions. To save space, only the spark is stamped on most pottery pieces. Bennington Potter’s pieces usually carry a number, which is often confused for a date, but these numbers are instead a product style designation that allows each piece to be easily identified. Over the last half-century, hundreds of shapes have been produced. Assigning each a shape number allows for clear communication when additional pieces are being made, purchased, or described by customers.

BENNINGTON POTTERS’ FOUNDER, DAVID GIL, DIES AT 79
Mar 19, 2002 Updated Oct 17, 2018

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) David Gil, the founder of a Bennington company that produces hand-crafted pottery sold worldwide, has died. He was 79. Gil, of North Pownal, died Monday morning at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. He came to Bennington more than 50 years ago and started Bennington Potters Inc. as a one-man operation in a barn. The company has since grown into a massive operation, selling pottery in more than 2,000 locations worldwide. Paul Silberman, the company’s president and chief executive officer, said Gil’s death was unexpected. “Silberman said he was looking forward to another solid 10 to 20 years. Born and raised in New York City, Gil graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School. He founded the company in 1948 after graduating from the ceramics school at Alfred University in New York. Gil bought the barn and began the company, which has helped bring name recognition to Bennington and its arts community. On a typical day, Gil came in every day at about 10 a.m. and rarely left the potters’ yard before 7 p.m. “He was always looking forward to the next challenge,” Silberman said. “David’s life – like his pottery – was a work in progress.

Silberman and Gil returned from a road trip to Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire last Wednesday. It was a “goodwill adventure” that Gil went on about once a year, Silberman said. In 1974, Gil was named Vermont Small Businessman of the Year. He was also the recipient of the Vermont Small Business and Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1998 and the Walloomsac Award, which he received from the Bennington Museum in 1999. Silberman said that Bennington Potters has become a “role model for New England craft companies struggling against foreign competition. “Silberman noted that the company’s management team, led by his wife, is determined to implement his legacy of a viable craft property to memorialize his life work. Gil is survived by his wife, Sheela Harden, and his four children.