Artist
Matthias Merkel-Hess(American, born 1978)American, born 1978
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Gott 5 Gallon Gas Can
Date2013
MediumPorcelain
Dimensions15 7/8 × 15 1/4 × 9 1/4 in. (40.3 × 38.7 × 23.5 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Joella and Steve Mach in honor of Thomas S.Glanville and Paul Murphy at "One Great Night in November, 2013"
Object number2014.74
Not on view
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Department
Decorative Arts, Craft, and DesignObject Type
Exhibition History"Matthias Merkel Hess: Oeuvreday," James Harris Gallery, Seattle, September 5–October 12, 2013.
“Contemporary Art: Selections from the Museum’s Collection,” Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 3–September 21, 2014.
"Optical Illusions: Selections from the Museum's Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, January 16–July 14, 2019.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Signed and dated with black paint on bottom: "Matthias Merkel Hess / 2013"
Embossed on bottom, just above "M" in Matthias: "0809"
Embossed on bottom, next to hole: "2"
Embossed on bottom: "U.S. PAT NO 301 689 / GOTT CORPORATION / WINFIELD, KS U.S.A / MODEL 1251 SPOUT 706 / VENT CAP 419 CAP 456"
Embossed on bottom: "COMMONWEALTH / OF MASSACHUSETTS / APPROVED PORTABLE GASONLINE CONTAINER / MODEL 1250 (?) / APPROVAL NO PO O57 (?) / DATE OF APPROVAL APRIL 15, 1987"
Embossed on bottom, a shield design with illegible text written inside.
Embossed on bottom, a circular design with "10 P 5 4" (?) written inside.
Embosed on both side of Gas Can: "GASOLINE" with illegible text underneath
Embossed on bottom, next to hole: "2"
Embossed on bottom: "U.S. PAT NO 301 689 / GOTT CORPORATION / WINFIELD, KS U.S.A / MODEL 1251 SPOUT 706 / VENT CAP 419 CAP 456"
Embossed on bottom: "COMMONWEALTH / OF MASSACHUSETTS / APPROVED PORTABLE GASONLINE CONTAINER / MODEL 1250 (?) / APPROVAL NO PO O57 (?) / DATE OF APPROVAL APRIL 15, 1987"
Embossed on bottom, a shield design with illegible text written inside.
Embossed on bottom, a circular design with "10 P 5 4" (?) written inside.
Embosed on both side of Gas Can: "GASOLINE" with illegible text underneath
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
Piero Fornasetti
c. 1950–1960
Porcelain and transfer print
2014.817.5