When Mara Superior first discovered ceramics, she wanted to make an artistic, non-functional object that came out of her training in conceptual art during her BFA in painting. Her first collection platter included miniaturized versions of actual ceramic objects made by students and colleagues in her graduate ceramics program.

Ever since, Superior has been making collection platters commemorating a particular period or form in ceramic history. Each platter includes miniaturized replicas of real objects from that period, such as a famous punchbowl made by John Cornelius. The background platters are made of Superior’s typical English porcelain with Cornwall stone glaze, which she considers to be her material language. However, the miniaturized objects are always made with the same authentic materials and techniques as the original objects, leading her to use stoneware and earthenware techniques that she seldom uses in her other work.

Mara Superior, “A Collection Teapots Plaque”, 1988, high-fired English porcelain, ceramic oxides, underglazes, Cornwall Stone glaze, 12.25 x 15.5 x 1″. John Polak Photography. Gift of The Victoria Schonfeld Collection to The Shelburne Museum (2025)

Mara Superior, “Americana: A Collection of Blue Salt-glazed Stoneware”, 2016, 14.5 x 17.5 x 1.5″, platter: high-fired porcelain, ceramic oxides, underglaze, glaze, gold leaf; miniature delft chargers: salt-glaze, stoneware. Racine Art Museum.

Mara Superior, “Venus of Urbino Revived”, 2018, 13 x 19 x 1.75″, high-fired porcelain, ceramic oxides, underglaze, glaze, gold leaf, decal, detail. Chazen Museum of Art (2019.1).

Mara Superior, “Kangxi Period, Qing Dynasty/ A Collection”, detail, 2018, porcelain, underglazes, oxides, glaze, gold leaf, 12.5 x 16 x 2.5″, Gifted by the Kohler Foundation to the Frick Pittsburgh.

Mara Superior, “A Collection of Canton China”, 2015, 13 x 16 x 2.5”, high-fired porcelain, ceramic oxides, underglaze, glaze, gold leaf. Made in the artist’s studio, Hadley, MA (2015) to Ferrin Contemporary to Private Collection.

Mara Superior, “English Delftware: A Collection of Blue Dash Chargers”, 2016, high-fired porcelain, ceramic Oxides, Underglaze, glaze, gold leaf, 12.5 x 16 x 1.5″, John Polak Photography, Made in the artist’s studio, Hadley, MA (2016), Gifted by the Kohler Foundation to the Everson Museum of Art (2018).

Mara Superior, “Shelburne Museum Collection Platter”, 2026, high fired English porcelain, gold leaf, 15 x 17 x 1.5″, Made in the artist’s studio, Hadley and Williamsburg, MA to the Collection of Shelburne Museum, Museum Purchase. 2026-10.