Little by little ...

I do not have an answer! This is the only example of his ceramic work I can find! The glaze is exquisite – it should be for a master of painting enamels on glass!!

So – if you have any of his pieces I would love to see them.

… Oh, and, yes – if you are interested in buying this amazing rarity for 137 euros speak to me – here or on THROWN and FIRED

… And Peggie Foy? You don’t know Peggie Foy?!

…Then you better watch this STUNNING VIDEO – and just listen to that pronuciation – sooo exact!!

And what will surprise you may (perhaps) is that although she is famous for her twee fairytale tin glazed figurines … here I present to you – one of her pots!

What can I say? She was NOT known for throwing or shaping pots yet I found one (I’ve seen only one other … on the video!).

… But I will sell it to you if you are a collector … first though I shall post it on ebay to let all of those interested grab the opportunity to own it!

… And if you lose out on that you can always find something else of interest on THROWN and FIRED

Aventurine and flammée – some recipe!

I saw it way off. Down the aisle, partially hidden with the pottery of interest – jugs, figurines, objects d’art …

I think it was the shape first – then the glaze … and what a glaze! My wife, later, told me it was an aventurine glaze – normally seen in glass pieces. In this case an unknown metal leaf broken up into tiny ‘specks’ that glittered in the light, set in a burgundy glaze (would that be…

How would a mathematician make a pot?

The answer: With precision!

This squat cylinder was quite an accomplishment. First of all, it takes an exacting skill to shape a pot like this – with such acute angles.

But, what really gets me going is the fact that the stripes have been applied using such mathematical exactitude – it has been done off the wheel; it has been done by using tape (this is commonly known as a tape resist), in which…

A gift from before the French Revolution …

Funny, the gifts that one gets given!

I met someone a number of years ago just as they were readying themselves to move.

As they decided what they would keep and what they would throw out, they invited me to choose anything that was on the ‘throw’ pile.

Actually, there seemed to be more interesting stuff that she regarded as rubbish for the tip. This pitcher dates back to the mid to late 1700’s!…

The interesting thing here is that the ‘decoration’ on the sides is a modern take on an ancient method of firing.

The original ancient pieces were fired on their sides. I think that is because some of them had rounded bases. They were sat on three tiny pillars … and, because kiln space was critical, they would be stacked one on top of the other. Therefore there would be a circle plus three marks left by the pillars on either side of the pot.

This modern piece, marked with the Chinese ‘Ka’, has applied a contemporary interpretation by using glazes and resists to achieve a likeness of the old process. The black clay has had grit to it – this is commonly known as grogged clay.

This is just one example of the growing variety of works that I am collecting on Thrown and Fired

I was scrutinizing a table full of ceramic pieces – plates, vases, objets d’arts. As my eyes focused on each object, my heart jumped!

There in the midst was what looked like an iridescent vase! I homed in on it with all the ‘casualness’ of a poker player.

Suddenly, as I picked it up, two things became immediately apparent:

It wasn’t ceramic – far too heavy

This was not iridescence – but tarnish!

It was bronze. I looked at the base and saw a Chinese mark. So, I was looking at a Chinese bronze vase!

To cut a long story short, I found out that it is what some people call an archaistic vessel – something ‘modern’ that is using ancient elements. It appears to be a vessel or container for incense accessories that is placed in ‘the study room’. It is of the Qing Dynasty (that is any time between the 18th and early 20th century). And it is cryptically signed ‘Yi Zhen’.

I say ‘cryptically’ because in the Ming Dynasty (before the 18th century) there was a celebrity bronze worker by that name – and his works are incredibly valuable! But, I was calmed down by those who know … whatever the name on the base is, it is not THE Yi Zhen!

So, not know really anything about this particular piece, I decided to let the ebay surfers tell me its value. You can see how well it does by clicking HERE

Otherwise, I have just posted a Francoise Chedeville on Thrown and Fired

For this large vessel was made by Léon Pointu … who’s father Jean used what I consider as an unforgettable pottery mark … “.u” … Get it? “Point U”

This can be mistaken for a humble, but large, flower pot – and I believe that that is why it remained in an antique dealers shop totally unseen – until I was drawn to it.

It just didn’t fit the “flower pot” genre … I mean, who would glaze their flower pot with gold glaze? I am still trying to find out whether this glaze could actually be gold (maybe not) … but this must have been made around the turn of the 19/20th century.

Not the most exciting design … but a tremendous privilege to find one France’s better known potters.

You are welcome to join me (until the 6th October) and see how it fares on ebay (just press HERE and if you would like to own a hundred year old top french potters pot why not bid for it and experience the amazing adrenaline rush – especially if you win!).

… And, of course, Thrown and Fired is often being updated … come and say hello!

For this large vessel was made by Léon Pointu … who’s father Jean used what I consider as an unforgettable pottery mark … “.u” … Get it? “Point U”

This can be mistaken for a humble, but large, flower pot – and I believe that that is why it remained in an antique dealers shop totally unseen – until I was drawn to it.

It just didn’t fit the “flower pot” genre … I mean, who would glaze their flower pot with gold glaze? I am still trying to find out whether this glaze could actually be gold (maybe not) … but this must have been made around the turn of the 19/20th century.

Not the most exciting design … but a tremendous privilege to find one France’s better known potters.

You are welcome to join me (until the 6th October) and see how it fares on ebay (just press HERE and if you would like to own a hundred year old top french potters pot why not bid for it and experience the amazing adrenaline rush – especially if you win!).

… And, of course, Thrown and Fired is often being updated … come and say hello!

I do not know anything about it. The mark underneath (if it IS a mark) might be in Arabic or maybe Chinese … or maybe I need to look at it the other way up … er, which way might that be?

The little touch of oxblood glaze is really intriguing – but a lovely touch … but I have thought, in the past, that it is an inkwell … no, don’t laugh!

If you want to say anything about it (like, perhaps, who is responsible for creating it!) please let me know …

As always, you will be very welcome to browse Thrown and Fired … you never know what you will find there!

How about a Chinese … to take away!

Here is an amazing little story:

At a French bootsale I noticed this beautiful teapot, along with six tiny cups and saucers. The seller told me that they had bought the set whilst on holiday in China, from a place known as the Purple Clay Teapot Museum in Wuxi, in the Yixing Region.

Known as a Yixing Teapot, this was offered to her as one of a limited edition of just 100. She was informed that…

This is a Shaving Scuttle … ?

Yes … not only is this a thing of beauty – it also serves a very practical purpose … somewhere to put your shaving brush, of course!

But, seeing as I do not shave, then I can only relate to it, with all its ‘wackiness’, as a piece of sculptural art.

For Steve Woodhead, the maker of this fine ceramic piece, it is more to do with his passion of … creating shaving scuttles. I love it!

And talking…

Now this is what I call treasure …

… So I go into a charity shop … I notice that the top shelf is full of vases and jugs … right at the back, out of sight, I find this …

… Perhaps people have passed this by because it is not marked … wait a minute … what’s this?

… there is something there, is there not? All I have to do now is recognise what it says!

If you think you can read it then please leave a comment (no matter what you…

Alfred Renoleau – Hairdresser extraordinaire!

Alfred Renoleau of Angouleme must have been an interesting hairdresser because he was inspired one day to take up studio pottery in France.

He went on to be one of France’s more experimental potters of the early 20th century. And one of his avenues of research was into the amazing alchemical world of glazing. Here is a humble example of his crystalline works.

I am surprised just how well…

Much more than a little jug!

… A lot more.

The care that has gone into this seemingly ‘ordinary’ pot shows in the shape, the smooth glaze, the coloring …

The German potter Monika Maetzel made this delight, and now I would want you dear reader to hold it in your hands and receive the blessing that seems to radiate from it.

OK, that may sound a bit over the top, but I would like you to agree that it IS a confident piece.

What…

A Modern Take on an Antique Idea

I am talking, of course, on the ancient craft of Terra Sigillata!

… Only here is a perfect (almost) example of a ceramic fashioned in a way that is very tactile – and sensual!

This little signed vase is almost like holding a piece of velvet in the hands, and is a joy to the eyes (well, mine at any rate!)

I am offering this for sale (50 euros or near offer) on my website Thrown and Fired

Let’s go crazy – with Bessone!

Of course, potters are earthy … but look at this!

Marius Bessone, born in Vallauris, France … found an absolutely totally over-the-top uniqueness in caressing the clay … and probably a little bit encouraged by seeing Picasso’s ‘love it – hate it’ pieces in the 60’s/70’s…

This hand signed piece is ‘under the hammer’ on ebay starting 17th September.

For other delights come and enjoy shapes and…