Louise Darby, British studio pottery stoneware vase, dolphin design, c2010

Size:  20 cm tall, maximum width about 14 cm.

Condition: Excellent condition.

This vase, like all of Louise Darby's work, is meticulously precise in its making but has all the character and interest of handmade studio ceramics. The glazing and design of the vase gives the appearance of it having been carved out of stone.  The vase is beautifully potted, hand thrown and turned to a super smooth finish.  It has been carved with a pattern of Dolphins while the clay is leather hard, and biscuit fired.  The lightly specked pinky-brown glaze has then been added and scraped and sponged before the glaze firing to 1280ºC.  Louise's signature is on the side of the vase.  The inside of the foot is also glazed. 

Louise's work inspires wonder in subtle ways, sometimes in its sheer simplicity. Born in 1957, Louise has been a professional potter since graduating from Loughborough College of Art and Design in 1978.  She has been potting at her studio near Stratford on Avon in Warwickshire since 1983 and is a professional member of the Craft Potters Association.