19/10/2011

Creamed Ware






Made these assemblages as response — in some way, shape or form — to the BBC's excellent Ceramics: A Fragile History. Episode 2 (of 3) focused on industrialisation, Wedgwood and Stoke–on–Trent. I was particularly interested in the coming about of Creamware, as a cheap alternative to Porcelain. It has its own dairy, opaque quality and reveals its mutton–dressed–as–lamb, earthenware body, when chipped. The death of the Potteries as relayed, was sad and frustrating in equal measure (as is the lights going out on so many famous Ceramics courses). Outsourcing of process was fatal in undermining the very thing that a market might value in the product: local craftsmanship. So the pieces here, comprised of cheap, import, mimetic materials.

1 comment:

Angus said...

Interesting program. Walter Keeler makes some lovely creamware pieces, but my favourites are his salt glaze engine turned inspired pots.