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Quiz about George Ohr the Mad Potter of Biloxi

George Ohr, the Mad Potter of Biloxi Quiz

George Ohr was a potter who worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is one of the most respected potters in the U.S. today, and if you have one of his items, you have one of the earliest abstract pieces ever to be made!

A multiple-choice quiz by chicochi3. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
chicochi3

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
318,864

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
237

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what city did George Ohr study pottery making? Hint

Florence

Paris

New Orleans

New York

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Question 2 of 10

2. What distinction did George Ohr's father hold in Biloxi? Hint

He was the first blacksmith in Biloxi

He owned a grocery store in Biloxi

He was the mayor of Biloxi

He published the first newspaper in Biloxi

3. In 1884, Ohr exhibited and sold his pots at the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exhibition in New Orleans. What was his boast about the hundreds of pieces of pottery that he displayed there? Hint

Fastest pottery manufacturer in Mississippi

Largest and smallest pots and everything in between

Only hand-thrown pots east of the Mississippi River

No two pieces alike

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who gave Ohr the nickname of "the Mad Potter of Biloxi"? Hint

Ohr himself

Joseph Meyer

P.T. Barnum

William Morris

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who called Ohr's work "unequaled, undisputed, unrivaled-the greatest art potter on earth"? Hint

William Morris

P.T. Barnum

Ohr himself

Joseph Meyer

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Question 6 of 10

6. How did the leaders of the early Arts and Crafts Movement (late 19th/early 20th centuries) view Ohr? Hint

Considered him a leader of the Movement

Considered him the "next big fad"

Considered him an artistic genius

Considered him a boasting eccentric

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Question 7 of 10

7. How do people today view Ohr's pottery overall? Hint

Childishly made

Beautiful

Not worth buying

Groundbreaking

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1894 a fire destroyed most of Biloxi, including Ohr's shop. What happened to the completed pots that burned in the fire? Hint

None of these

They were shipped to Newcomb College in New Orleans for repair

Ohr designated them his "burned babies" and kept them

They were broken up and added to cement to make a foundation for the new shop he had to build

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Question 9 of 10

9. What are some of the most notable features of Ohr's pottery? Hint

Thick walls, bubbled glazes

Black glazes, thin walls, flattened shapes

Very bright colors, thick walls, hand-carved designs

Unusual glazes, thin walls, twisted shapes

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Question 10 of 10

10. What happened to the new Ohr-O'Keefe Museum building that was supposed to open in 2006 in Biloxi? Hint

Funding for the Museum was cut by the government so it was abandoned

The Museum was set to be relocated to New Orleans because they were more closely connected to Ohr than Biloxi was

A fire burned the partially finished building requiring it to be started over again

Hurricane Katrina set a casino barge on the partially finished building doing heavy damage

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what city did George Ohr study pottery making?

Answer: New Orleans

George Ohr studied pottery making with Joseph Meyer of Newcomb College. Newcomb College was considered to be one of the centers of the Arts and Crafts movement in the field of pottery making, and Joseph Meyer was considered to be among the best of the Newcomb potters. Meyer's pottery making skills were learned from his father in France.

2. What distinction did George Ohr's father hold in Biloxi?

Answer: He was the first blacksmith in Biloxi

George Ohr's father was the first blacksmith in Biloxi, and his mother held the distinction of owning a very popular grocery store there.

Answer: No two pieces alike

As a showman, Ohr has been compared to P.T. Barnum. If anyone was going to expound upon how great Ohr's pottery was, it was certain to be Ohr himself!

4. Who gave Ohr the nickname of "the Mad Potter of Biloxi"?

Answer: Ohr himself

Besides being a great potter, Ohr was quite the publicist and had a way with words. Joseph Meyer was one of the great potters of Newcomb College. William Morris was one of the leading members of the Arts and Crafts movement.

5. Who called Ohr's work "unequaled, undisputed, unrivaled-the greatest art potter on earth"?

Answer: Ohr himself

Again, Ohr was great at self promotion. He had a sign on his shop proclaiming "Get a Biloxi souvenir before the potter dies or gets a reputation!" In 1901 he claimed "When I am gone my work will be praised, honored,and cherished. It will come!"

6. How did the leaders of the early Arts and Crafts Movement (late 19th/early 20th centuries) view Ohr?

Answer: Considered him a boasting eccentric

The leaders of the Arts and Crafts Movement did not accept Ohr or his pots. They considered his boasts of his own greatness to be ridiculous. Frederick Hurton Rhead, early 20th century potter, educator, and designer called Ohr a "hick" and said that he lacked any art training and also lacked taste.

7. How do people today view Ohr's pottery overall?

Answer: Groundbreaking

Today's collectors consider Ohr's pottery overall as groundbreaking early examples of the abstract pottery and sculpture of the mid 20th century. Overall, though, his pottery is not recognized as "beautiful". In 1969, 6000 pieces of Ohr's work were found stashed away in the Ohr family barn. Over fifty years after Ohr shut down his studio, artists like Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Betty Woodman, Ron Nagle, and Michael Lucero collected and claimed to be influenced by Ohr's work.

8. In 1894 a fire destroyed most of Biloxi, including Ohr's shop. What happened to the completed pots that burned in the fire?

Answer: Ohr designated them his "burned babies" and kept them

Ohr was very attached to his pots, and although these pots were burned and would have been considered destroyed by most potters, Ohr designated these his "burned babies" and kept them. Today they are considered some of his most desirable pieces.

9. What are some of the most notable features of Ohr's pottery?

Answer: Unusual glazes, thin walls, twisted shapes

Ohr's pots are often forged today and appear to be made with thick walls, have poorly imitated signatures, and have common glazes. If you are looking for an authentic George Ohr pot, be careful and study closely or you may be deceived.

10. What happened to the new Ohr-O'Keefe Museum building that was supposed to open in 2006 in Biloxi?

Answer: Hurricane Katrina set a casino barge on the partially finished building doing heavy damage

The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum was severely damaged when Hurricane Katrina set a casino barge on top of the partially completed building. The completion of the building was indefinitely delayed and a small part of the collection was put on temporary display in another location in Biloxi.

Source: Author chicochi3

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
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