Category: Latest Work

A very mixed firing with many experimental glazes. Four different white glazes for requested vases. Further variations on the theme of “kraak” ware. Further variations on wax resist “double glazing “.

The latest firings have been mainly stoneware, including various variations on the “kraak” ware motif.

Another from the latest series of figurative pastel and charcoal pictures, some on show at the Christmas exhibition in the wonderful new Green Fuse Gallery, Westport, Co.Mayo. The others are in the “Pictures/pastel” section.

Various pieces, stoneware and pastel pictures for the group show at Green Fuse Gallery, Westport, from Saturday 19th NOvember.

In the late 17th century Ming dynasty porcelain was imported into Europe in bulk on ships known as  carracks or kraaks . Portugal led the way in this trade, followed by Spain and Holland. As the original Chinese porcelain was very expensive, local potters in many countries imitated kraak ware in tin-glazed earthenware. My dish is a version of the Spanish Talavera style. Kraak ware dishes were usually decorated with scenes from nature, and the border area was divided into eight segments, often in the shape of lotus leaves, around the centre. The centre typically featured birds, rocks, plants and water. The shape of the dishes with wide rims was standard in European tableware of the period. This one has been made to accompany a 17th century sailor’s ship model of a carrack in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland.