Water cooler

Art Historical Context

Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of, this stoneware water cooler, crafted by Richard Franklin (k) Bell between 0 and 1890, exemplifies the robust utilitarian pottery of post-Civil War America. Standing at 14½ inches tall, it was designed for everyday use—keeping water cool in warm climates through its thick, insulating stoneware body. Bell, a potter likely working in the American South, contributed to a tradition of functional ceramics that blended necessity with modest artistry. Stoneware, fired at high temperatures to create a durable, non-porous material, was ideal f...