Tiny ewer of success!

 The tiny ewer came out of the kiln yesterday and I couldn’t be more pleased. I thin this is one of those objects that will just make me smile for years to come. I love how well the sultanabad pattern I designed came out. It is perfect for the ballooned shape of the jug.

I also love the spout. I was never really happy with the elongated original. It wasn’t quite like the reference pictures and I didn’t like the balance. It was going to be a lot of work to modify once it’s been fired to bisque and I wasn’t confidant I’d be able to maintain the balance of the piece.

Once a bulk of the lip had accidentally chipped off, I sanded it back and cleaned it up with a kitchen scourer. One fresh coat of clear gloss later and lovely! So much happier and so glad an accident made the object even better than I was original planning.

Albarello London delft attempt

I love the Iznik inspired designs used on some London delft earthernware items. The concept of a design and motifs from China, inspiring craftspeople in Turkey whose objects then inspire craftspeople in Renaissance England and then inspire me is just delightful.

I thought I'd try the design below on one of the albarello's I made during Covid lockdown. I used white clay so an white underglaze was overkill. White underglaze would have also made the blue glaze more likely to bleed and introduces problems with glaze thickness. Cobalt blue seemed like the best colour to utilise in this design. Spoiler alert: blue on white glaze is also my favourite pallet by far.

The Iznik inspired design on this jar is delightful. London Delft blue and white jar. 1600-1640. Christies. Auction 2515, lot 68. 

Khorassan ewer of tinyness III

The tiny Chinese jar is done! I’m pretty happy with how the blue on blue shading worked out. I think I’ll be using that approach again.

Unfortunately the ewer suffered a chipping prior to being loaded into the kiln. Happily, the team at Claymake made the right call and didn’t fire it so I could rescue it. I considered the PVA and glaze welding truck but the lip of a the spout would be under too much strain from gravity to stick before the glaze melted. Instead, I grabbed my trusty dust mask and some sand paper and reshaped the lip. I’m actually a lot happier with the result than I was with the original shape. I make have to make a master of this so I can slip cast some more.

I guess it’s not even close to a Khorassan ewer now. It’s a pleasing shape, I wonder if I can find any medieval examples closer to this shape. Can’t wait to see the glaze results!

Khorassan ewer of tinyness II

 

Progress is slow but there is something medatitive about glazing a tiny jug you can hold in your fist.

The extant jug was shaped metal which is lovely as an object But not replicable in a ceramic. I’ve decided to utilise Sultanabad motifs for the rest of the jug.

Ready for a clear gloss and high firing!

Khorassan ewer of tinyness

I made this tiny jug during a slip casting class a few weeks ago. I adored the bulb shape and it’s tiny aspect is beyond cute. Even better, the shape is very close to a number of medieval middle eastern ewer. So, using the image below as an initial reference, I started decorating.

Khorassan Copper Bronze Ewer, 12th century. North East Persia. Christie’s Auction. Sale 6098, lot 407.

In progress...

Nimbus

Nimbus the accident prone represents attempt five at purple with four solid cotes of Walker purple under brush on glaze. Perhaps Thickness of pigment will help. Foot and hat-tip will be rejoined with PVA and glaze. Hopefully this will form a decent bond during firing.

Formiferia

Formiferia is a delightful experiment in greens with Brunswick base underlying the lighter colours.

Paris green

Apple green

Leaf green

Victoria green

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is perfect for that Christmas vibe. Sporting Rocket Red, white and Walker green, this gnome vase festive colours are sure to please.

It took me sometime to decide how to decorate this epic hat. I’m really pleased with the motif balance.

Bellfleure

Bellflure has been sealed with clear gloss glaze to ensure a watertight vase. Decorated in white, electric and cobalt blue this four stem vase is sure to stun. The magnificent mustache is my favourite bit.

Rain

Blue is today’s theme with Rain sporting a stunning multi- colour hat. I’m not sure how well the white will work but I’m hopefull the blue blend will turn out well.

Sixties-child

The sixties-child truely believes in the power of flowers. They will eventually sport a new model hat but for now they brave the kiln in floral body paint.

Annnnd complete:

Bamboushi

Bamboshi is experiment 4 in purple. Walker purple mixed with a good dollop of Rocket Red. Hopefully this was blended enough to result in a good even purple. Four coats have been applied.

Violet

 Violet is stage three in my efforts to get a good purple. She wears Glazeit 23 and Brunswick green leaf with a top down blend of Glazeit 10 and Walker purple. Shoes are Glazeit 10. Hopefully this will produce an adequate colour.

Il-kakatani

Il-kakatani sports the latest combination of Walker actually-good-green and rocket red. Vaguely christmassy, and microwave / dishwasher safe, Il-kanahadi could be used as a cake topper but would much rather a place among the pansys.

OxoPembridge

OxoPembridge is the second vase experiment. Slightly smaller they are ideal for single stem blooms. Cobalt blue decorative trim and a slightly Lilly pad hat design make OxoPembridge quite the trendsetter.

Sylvain

 

Walker yellow, cobalt blue and brushed on clear glaze. Sylvain will hypnotise you with their epic style.

This yellow is more orange than I expected. Perhaps this is caused by transfer of the cobalt during clear glaze or maybe due to the brush on glaze. This is perfect for a majolica yellow if it’s the brush on, I’m sold!

Nicolotto

This brown doesn’t really need more testing as it will be a delicious colour. I am curious how well it performs on Nicolotto’s textured hat though. Perhaps I’ll regret plain shoes after firing but for now I’m terribly pleased with his large nose.

I am loving this texture!

Fermicool

Fermicool is another experiment with the Walker purple. Under the purple is a base coat of 20 parts white and one part rocket red. This may be too light a pink but I’m staging up.

The light pink on his boots came out as a really nice shade. I’m going to have to try make an Ombré using staged blends with red I think.

The purple was a bit of a fail. The colour is just too patchy. I think I’ll blend it with a spot of red and quad coat the next trial.

Borrage

Borrage is an experiment with a base of satin blue, with rutile yellow and a trim of clear gloss. Mustache is rich brown and shoes satin blue with midnight gloss.

Interesting, Borrage was one of the only gnomes to develop kiln blush in his clutch.

Saffron

Delicate and devilish, Saffron has the new clear glaze over black and rocket red. I am delighted with this result!

Plimbington

Plimbington was inspired by HettaKetta’s flower and thus, the single stems gnome vase was born. First of a new breed, I really hope the clear glaze provides a sufficient seal on the inside.

Gertrude

Gertie knows the classic toxic mushroom hat will always be a winner. Fire truck red with white dots should hopefully score them Best in Garden.

Bellatoni

Bellatoni is an experiment in ombré on Kim Lyons buff clay. I’m pretty sure I’ll get some form of kiln blush on this one but I’m not sure if the orange and yellows will still work. Tones will also get a shiney brown beard.

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No kiln blush. Odd. Still, I’m loving the gradational colour combo.

Swanhilde

Black detail under the Walker yellow.

Swanhilde has the latest in experimental patterns. Will the black detail break through the yellow and mandarin ombré? Will the burnt orange brim work or will it burn off in the kiln and turn unsightly?

Ombré awaiting clear glaze. The mandarin shoes will stay matt I think.

Hettakettaloomp

Hettakettaloomp (of the briskeald Loomps) is fully coordinated in their white and cobalt blue hat with mandarin, rocket and redwood floral accent.

Hettaketta was the inspiration for the vase gnome subset.

Zigfreid

Zigfried sports a delightful teal green hat with dark accents. His hollow shoes should pond with clear glaze. A bit of a risk taker, his experimental colours are GlazeIt’s 22 and 25 from the 2014 collection.

Add. : I’m so excited these colours came out exactly as they would in previous works. I never knew what temps Glazeit fires at and I lovelove the turquoise colours!