Chthonic #1.

'Chthonic' means 'primordial' or 'of the earth'.
These pieces are made by stretching a freshly thrown form from the inside to evoke echoes of the geological forces that shape our landscapes.

Chun Glaze
A Chinese glaze first used during the Song dynasty (7th century) for the imperial court.
An 'optical' blue, the colour comes from diffraction of light caused by tiny colloidal particles formed in the glaze.
These glazes have to be applied very thickly to achieve the optical effect, but they are also fluid and difficult to control. Potting with chun glazes is rather like riding a temperamental horse.

30cm wide x 31cm high.
(12 inches wide x 12.4 inches) high

Chthonic #2

24cm dia x 25 cm high
(9.5 in dia x 10 in high)

Glazed with copper red. These glazes are also highly temperamental - but in a different way to the Chun. Copper is highly volatile at porcelain temperatures, so the red colour can vanish completely, leaving the glaze clear and colourless in patches. Both the Chun and Copper red have the character of a 'force of nature' which is highly appropriate to these pieces.