Some insects...and ceramics!

Some insects...and ceramics!

Goodness, the cockroaches are getting out of control in the UK. Can’t turn your head for a moment or the morning tea disappears!

Some ceramics that also caught my eye, for no particular reason, other than perhaps their differences.
These earthenware pieces are by Clarice Cliffe from around 1929 – 31, and were made by Arthur J. Wilkinson Ltd of Staffordshire. They were hand painted with enamel glazes, and I think it is the gentle, cottage water colour quality, that endears them to me.

In contrast, the tea set designed by Walter Gropius is firmly modernist. These pieces, porcelain with over glaze transfer designs, were first made in 1969 by Rosenthal, and are still in production today. Best known as an architect and for his association with the Bauhaus movement, this modernist pioneer also turned his hand to designing objects. These must have been amongst the last things he designed, as he died in July of the year that they went into production.

Made around the same time, the ‘Delphi’ vase demonstrates different directions and interests. Typical of much work of the 60’s it reflects a growing interest in classical and archaic styles, with bold patterns and decoration that often alludes to ancient and sometimes mystical sources- a counter point to the certainty and orderliness of ‘modernism’. This large vase was made by Poole Pottery between 1966 and 1969, and was decorated by Jean Millership, and is earthenware with incised decoration over painted with coloured glazes- technically something in common with recent garden art and columns that we have been making at Matakana.

And lastly this coloured plate designed by Patrick Heron in 1991, chosen mainly because it reminds me of the loose painterly style seen on some Morris & James work during the 80’s and 90’s, which incidentally I think are better than this, but then I am biased! Made in Staffordshire by Wedgewood and Sons, it is in bone china with coloured transfers under glaze.

- Nick C