Gravestone crock with winged skull, foliage, and stars. Wood fired wild clay, alkaline glaze
$270.00
This piece is what happens when a fairly traditional american folk form meets spooky old colonial era cemetary art. This short neck crock has been hand turned with wild local clay, and adorned with classic and graceful lug handles which make it easy and comfortable to move around (important when you have arranged a nice bouquet). The decorative motifs are directly based on old new england grave markers, from the winged skull to the foliate motifs and geometric stars, but all presented through the lenses of my own style. Instead of the more traditional “memento mori” (remember you must die), i have inscribed the back side of this piece with the affirmation “memento vitae”, remember you are alive. We know we have this life for sure, wisdom is remembering to live it.
The images are first drawn by hand using a long tapered iron needle, when i am happy with the design, i then painstakingly press the pattern into the still soft clay with a variety of hand carved wooden tools. The process is closer to chasing a pattern into metal with a chisel than it is to the carving which is more commonly used by potters. This crock also features some subtle yet striking oxide colors on the stars, all enrobed in a traditional southern alkaline glaze.
As always, this crock is made using hand dug wild clay, and is fired to over 2350f in my wood burning kiln. It stands roughly 9″ tall, and perfect for the display of fresh cut or dry flower arrangements
Out of stock