Banner: Porcelain Grace, Meryl Ruth, Fine Art

 

 

   TEA LEAVES

Tea Leaves is a ceramic pot in classic style embellished with a leaf motif.
  • This teapot was inspired by the leaf motif I used successfully for the undercarriage base I had designed for Enchanted Quali-Tea and Fairy Tale Quali-Tea.
  • The teapot and lid are wheel thrown of stoneware clay.
  • Extruded clay is used for the handle.
  • The leaves are made separately by press mold.
  • Construction sequence:
        Fired initially to cone 06.
        Underglazes are applied to the outer surfaces and coral
        colored glossy glaze is painted on the inside of the teapot to
        seal the nonporous surface by vitrification.
        Refired to cone 5/6.
        A number of layers of China paint applied to the outer surface
        to emulate leaf coloration, thereby enhancing the richness of
        its colors and give it a more autumn feeling.
        Multiple refirings to cone 015 to complete the work.
  • Shown at Portland Pottery Teapot Show; Judges Choice Award.
  • Date: 2010.
  • Size: 7.75" x 6.25" x 4.25".
  • Sold

 

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ENLARGED VIEWS

Enlarged view.

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Enlarged view.

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Enlarged view.

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CREATIVE PROCESS

The piece is crafted to the bisque state and fired.

  • My intention in designing and constructing this piece was to create a wheel thrown ceramic teapot adorned with leaves.
  • The process of applying the leaves by press mold directly to the surface proved particularly difficult. I was not able to produce a satisfactory work because too many leaves made the piece seem heavy and unbalanced. By adding separately-made press mold leaves more sparsely to the surface, I was able to create this delicately balanced and nuanced teapot instead.
  • The teapot at this early stage of its development is shown after bisque firing has been completed to cone 06.

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Underglazes are applied and partly rubbed off.

  • The teapot is bisque fired to cone 06.
  • Underglazes are added. They are partially rubbed off and then more are applied.
  • The piece is now ready to be refired to cone 5/6.

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Coloration added to interior and exterior surfaces.

  • After kiln firing, further overglaze coloration is added to the exterior surface.
  • The interior surface is decorated and sealed with cone 5/6 glaze.
  • The teapot is shown here with lid in place and with lid removed to show the contrasting interior coloration.
  • A number of layers of China paint are applied to enhance the exterior coloration and give it the feeling of autumn.
  • After each China paint layer, the work is refired to cone 015, completing the work.