Catharine Cummins
Forget-Me-Not 2 | Vintage Shard on Hard Board (Framed) | 12" x 12" | BBD$1,665.00/USD$832.50 The centre piece in this artwork is a lovely floral spongeware knob. Spongeware was a cheap and cheerful way to decorate pottery. The process requires the design to be cut out of natural sea sponge, dipped in coloured slip, dabbed onto whiteware then clear glazed and fired. It was extremely popular in Scotland. This sponging process was probably done as piecework by women at home to generate much needed extra income. The inner circle is comprised of late 18th century striped annular ware with some clay pipestem mixed in. And the outer circle is all Willow pattern transferware from the 1890s which was a hugely popular Chinoiserie design used on ceramic housewares.
With a Heart at its Centre II | Vintage Shard on Hard Board (Framed) | 12" x 12" | BBD$1,215.00/USD$607.50 The special feature on this one is a pink artichoke. I think it must have been the knob on a teapot lid or maybe a side dish cover. Artichokes are an ancient vegetable that are full of symbolism. They have a tender heart at their core protected by strong layers of leaves. They represent Peace, Hope, Prosperity and also Love- with a heart at its centre. As you drive around Barbados you can sometimes see stone artichokes topping gatepost columns symbolically protecting the home. The outer blue edge is made up of 1800 transferware. The remaining pieces are a mixture of blue and pink spongeware from the 1850s, probably from Scotland. The white unfired wares were hand printed with bits of sea sponge cut into patterns and dipped into coloured slip. Done usually as piece work by women in their homes and then sent back to factories for glazing and firing. And there are also 3 stubby bits of clay pipe stem. History in your hands.
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