Research
Morgen Hall
3 Year Research Post in Ceramic Practice
Centre for Ceramic Studies, School of Art & Design
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Download text file of research
March 1998 to March 2001 (Report date: November 2000)
Introduction
For the last 15 years I have relied on the following technology: a kick wheel, kiln, pair of scissors and a roulette wheel when making tableware as a self employed potter. The work is thrown, but with the emphasis on turning and fine rouletted detail with slip pattern work.
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Two teapots |
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Double walled ice cream dish with spoons |
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Turning a leatherhard pot |
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My kick wheel with clay chuck covered with cloth ready for turning. |
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Six ram pressed plates with various pattern work. |
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Ram pressed plate with celery pattern from vinyl "plotter – cut" stencil. |
Throwing & Turning
I use a wheel as a versatile means of producing forms, where each individual piece has the potential to be developed in response to the previous piece made.
Rouletting
A roulette is a small wheel with an engraved or embossed outer rim, usually attached to a handle, which can be rolled over leatherhard clay to impress a pattern. A roulette looks much like a ravioli cutter, but with different patterns on the outer edge of the wheel. The influence of 18th Century British tablewares gives an important example of how turning and rouletting a thrown piece can highlight form and enable clear space for surface patterning.
After being dissatisfied with my own home made roulette wheels, (made from plaster, bisque fired clay and wood), I found that book binders use exquisitely made brass tools, which they call – decorative farthing wheels". I bought one from a manufacturer"s existing catalogue of roulette patterns and commissioned one to be made specially.
When turning the base of a pot I leave a raised bevelled edge for the rouletted pattern to go on. The raised bevel makes for a more 3D pattern than if the rouletted pattern were pressed into the flat surface.
Scissors
I use scissors to create crisp edged paper resist pattern work. Newspaper shapes are cut and applied wet to the leatherhard pot prior to being sponged over with slip.
Research Post
In March 1998 I took up a three year research post at the Centre for Ceramic Studies at the Cardiff School of Art & Design, where I had previously attended the MA Ceramics course in 1983/84.
For this research study I have chosen to look for an industrial technology for tableware production that has the potential for hand made interventions, thereby allowing an exploration of the crossover between the industrial and the hand made.
I have been interested in finding ways other than throwing or hand building to make tableware. The main criteria I chose for directing this search included the ability to explore non circular form and to investigate more immediate ways of applying colour and pattern to the tableware. I also hoped to enable the production of these pieces in less time than my current very slow throwing, turning and decoration.
This new range of tablewares could then be mixed with the hand thrown pieces, which I will continue to make, thereby expanding the range of forms, surface treatments and selling prices.
