Intended to hold a single sprig of greenery, these ceramic vessels brought nature into modern California homes beginning in the 1950s. Doyle Lane’s experiments with color, glazing, and technique, which he applied to miniature elliptical and spherical forms, invite close looking. Each weed pot is decorated with two layers of glaze. Different minerals, extracted from the earth, determine the final color and texture of each layer. To reveal both colors, Lane used a double-glazing process in which small breaks in the top glaze reveal the glaze underneath. The artist honed his knowledge of color while working as a glaze technician for an industrial chemical company, L. H. Butcher, in Los Angeles, California, where he formulated and tested hundreds of different glazes over eight years. Through his innovative practice, he became an important figure in Los Angeles’ Black artistic community. Lane stated in a 1981 interview that there was “no secret, just work” behind his countless ceramic creations.