Pottery display well presented

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 12

Pottery display well presented

Exhibition of ceramics, by John Parker, — Brooke/Gifford Gallery, until June 1. Reviewed by David Brokenshire. Very frequently pottery exhibitions are simply a sale of work. In the Oxford dictionary one meaning of exhibit is “to submit for consideration.” In these terms this is truely an exhibition. The total effect is sumptuous in the extreme. It is arranged architecturally with two opposing rows of white pedestials of various hights, and each piece precisely positioned. The forms have been restricted to bottles and bowls and the colours restricted to turquoise, bronze, and agate.

Yet they form a most elegant composition.

All the pieces are porcelain and have been fired in an electric kiln to 1250 degrees. The agate effect is obtained by partially combining stained and unstained clay. When this is thrown, the appearance of the agate stone with its “marlbing,” is then accomplished. This is highly decorative and the best pieces gives a wonderful sense of movement.

The turqoise glaze is "stunning” in its intensity, and provides a very fine colour note. However, it is the turning, the fining down of the profile, which finally gives the pieces their poetic utterance. This is a beautiful and very moving exhibition.