Louisiana Leaders: Notable Women in History

One of the three principal decorators of the Newcomb College Pottery of New Orleans, Sarah Agnes Estelle (Sadie) Irvine is described as being the "greatest of the decorators in the history of the enterprise" and the "virtual cornerstone of the program". Newcomb's pottery program, established in 1895 at the women's division of Tulane University, is a very famous example of teaching craft skills to women in need of a career. It provided craft training, employment after graduation for some women, and specialist training for women artists in its later years. Newcomb pieces are valued collectibles today and are distinctive for their muted blues and greens and designs taken from the southern natural landscape.

One of the most famous designs of the pottery were the oak tree and the moon, shown above, both attributed to Miss Sadie Irvine. She recalled, "I was accused of doing the first oak-tree decoration, also the first moon. I have surely lived to regret it. Our beautiful moss-draped oak trees appealed to the buying public but nothing is less suited to the tall graceful vases -- no way to convey the true character of the tree. And oh, how boring it was to use the same motif over and over and over, though each one was a fresh drawing (no Newcombe pot was ever duplicated unless the purchases asked for it)." Miss Irvine began her studies at Newcomb College in 1902 and remained there in graduate studies, as an Art Craftsman, and as an Assistant, Assistant Instructor, and Instructor until her retirement in 1952. Her contributions to the Art School were "immeasureable". After her retirement from Newcomb, she taught for fifteen years at Sacred Heart Academy in New Orleans.