Earthenware Vase with Yellow Galena Glaze

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Earthenware Vase with Yellow Galena Glaze

MakerMade by Michael Cardew (Wimbledon, London, England, 1901 - 1983)

MakerMade at Winchcombe Pottery (Winchcombe, England, founded 1926)

StudentTaught by Bernard Leach (Hong Kong, 1887 - 1979)

CollectorCollected by Sandy Dunbar (London, England, 1929 - 2012)

Datec. 1930

Object NameVase

Mediumearthenware

ClassificationsCeramics

DimensionsOverall (Height x Diameter): 237 × 150mm
Base (Diameter): 90mm

AcquisitionThe Sandy Dunbar Studio Ceramics Collection presented in 2023 by Crinan Dunbar and Rebecca Russell.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS095708.23

Keywords

About MeThis medium-sized earthenware vase is decorated with dark brown slip (liquid clay) trailed over a white glaze and a yellow galena (lead) glaze. There are six panels around the middle and each alternate panel is covered with a greenish black overlay, perhaps suggesting that Cardew wished to hide what was beneath.

This is an early piece of Michael Cardew's work, made at Winchcombe Pottery, Gloucestershire. Cardew took over the disused Greet Pottery in 1926, running it as a rural pottery producing domestic wares. At Winchcombe Cardew also was instrumental in reviving the English slipware tradition, decorating his earthenware pottery with a creamy liquid clay known as slip. He employed Elijah Comfort, who had previously worked as a thrower at Greet Pottery and Sidney Tustin, who learned how to throw at the Winchcombe. They were later joined by Ray Finch who eventually took over Winchcombe Pottery after Cardew returned to Cornwall in 1939.