Designer: Robert McKeown (1931 – 1989)

Item: Postage Stamp Box

Manufactured by: Robert McKeown

Country of origin: United States

Year made: 1981

Materials: Wood with pewter and resin inlays

Dimensions: 1 ¾” x 1 ¾” x 1 ¾”

Condition: Excellent

Provenance: Berta Wright Galleries, Tucson, Arizona

Description: Here an exceptional and rarer postage stamp box design by McKeown with a great provenance. This piece has a nicely inlaid lid with a modernist geometric design using pewter and resin in multiple colors. The wood appears to be a combination of rosewood or palisander and possibly bubinga woods. This work has the branded cypher of the artist, as well as his engraved signature and date on the bottom, as shown.

This piece also bears the original label of Berta Wright (1921-1997) in Tucson, Arizona, who was an important figure in twentieth century design in Tucson from 1950 until her death in 1997. Wright opened her gallery in 1992 showing her own award winning designs in printed fabrics, and also the finest works of local and nationally known artists working in ceramics, glass, wood and other materials. A simple Google search provides a considerable amount of information about Wright and her importance.

McKeown's pieces are among the finest examples of quality Studio American craftsmanship and design. He was a San Francisco Bay area artist best known for his use of resin, metal and other inlays in his wood objects. He was a graduate of the California College of Arts and Crafts and was a color theorist who won acclaim for his innovative resin inlays on a range of utilitarian objects. His work was exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows at the American Craft Museum in New York City, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pennsylvania and the Yamaha Corporation American Craft Exhibit (1979-1980, Japan). He was a representative to the World Crafts Council Conference in Vienna in 1980. His body of work is somewhat limited because of his early death in 1989 at the age of 58. His works are becoming increasingly well recognized for their mastery of materials and design.