12.07.2011

In the Studio: Dagwood's Five Lobed Plates






I've been working on five-lobed plates for the last few weeks. This is the second incarnation of the form. The first batch will be in the show I'm having at the Charlie Cummings Gallery that opens at the end of the week. Click here for pics of the last set. I decided to take a different approach by skipping the wheel and hand building them this time. These are slab built over bisque molds. The middle insert is flat so there is no need for a foot. It also reinforces the rim and sets up a great five panel division for decorating.

I'm looking forward to seeing these finished and in the kitchen. They have a shallow profile that is great for pasta but I see them holding a huge Dagwood sandwich like this one. Kinda makes me hungry...



7 comments:

  1. beautiful! and I don't mean the sandwich ;-))

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  2. Thanks Linda. Glad you like the plates. That sandwich does look pretty good though doesn't it? It could feed a whole family.

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  4. love these, ben! you are rockin' my world - how DO you throw "Yixing clay", though (i'm guessing these are molded? but the other work is thrown). is it a claybody you mixed especially for *your* needs? i am supremely JEALOUS! i'll trade you a Dagwood sandwich for some of dat good stuff!

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  5. I really would love one of those Ben! Love the five panels for decorating. Although instead of all that sandwich, I'm seeing lighter grazing like a little breakfast plate to wake up to, or for pie. Or are these dinner sized? Love the one yellow bud.

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  6. Hello Christa,

    Thanks for visiting my blog.These are slab built over a hump mold. I've been using the clay that they make the big pots from. Check out this post about that little known Yixing tradition. (http://carterpottery.blogspot.com/2011/10/yixing-big-pots-pt-3.html) The clay is heavily grogged but I sieve that out to make is smooth. It is the most plastic clay I have found in China. I throw it and hand build with it. I've also thrown the purple Zisha clay that makes Yixing famous. It is great but costs an arm and a leg. They are running out of that clay so it is being held back for the masters of the tradition.

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  7. Hello Joy,
    Glad you like the plates. I now have images of pie stuck in my head. They would be nice with a big piece of cherry pie or pancakes or anything stackable. They are a little smaller than dinner sized. About 8 inches across and they have a depth of about an inch.

    We should work a trade when I'm finished. I have been eyeing a few of your forms for a while now.

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