Bottles are traditional forms that were originally created for the strict purpose of containment. Today, bottle forms are appreciated for their delicate decorative shapes which contrast their organic, primal feel. This Carved Bottle is a classic form made by Ben Owen III and influenced by early Asian forms made during the Tang Dynasty and gourd shapes from nature. The cobalt pigments blended with the Natural Ash Glaze and Yellow Matte Glaze create a completely individualistic finish. The carved water lines along the sides allow the glaze to flow and blend beautifully. Measuring 6.25"w x 12.5”h.
Please Note: What appear to be white spots on the surface are reflections from photo lighting.
MultiLayer Glazes
While Ben III was in college in the 1990s, he was introduced to a spraying technique with an air-driven spray gun that some potters use to build up layers of glazes on the clay surface. With some experimenting, he was able to create a variety of finishes using accents of three or four different colors and using an ash glaze as a top coat to blend or bleach the underlying colors. Some finishes are a base of iron yellow with cobalt blue or copper green covered with orange to silver developing from the overlapping colors. Each pot is unique. As a similar process to Natural Ash Glazes, Ben III frequently places these finishes in the wood kiln to accentuate the colors as well.
This piece is hand-signed by Ben Owen III with the year made (2025).