This Carved Urn Luminaria in Salt Glaze draws inspiration from urns that Ben III's Grandfather, Ben Sr., made during his time as a potter at Jugtown. It is an exploration of shapes and forms made in the Chinese Han Dynasty as well as inspiration from Southwest Native American pottery. These pieces revisit the style and carving that Ben III and his father, Ben Wade Owen Jr., explored in the 1980's. The design is hand-carved into the clay when the piece is "leather hard". The idea of cutting through to create a luminaria has influence from the impressive Chinese luminarias created during the Han Dynasty. Measuring 7.25”w x 6.5”h.
Please Note: What appear to be white spots on the surface are reflections from photo lighting.
Salt Glaze
Salt Glaze was first discovered by German potters in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Due to the high firing temperatures, stoneware clays are required. The pieces can be handled and decorated with clay slips of many different colors, or glazed partially with Cobalt Blue Glaze. The surface may resemble the texture of an orange peel. This was an early glaze used by settlers during the 19th century in the Seagrove area. Many of the pieces Ben makes in the Salt Glaze are functional, even the more decorative large-scale pots.
This piece is hand-signed by Ben Owen III with the year made (1989) and is part of our "Pots From The Past" series. A historical treasure to enjoy in your home or office!