Pitfired Vessel #80

This series of pit fired vessels started with the form of the rounded bottomed vessel, its connotations with the human body and ideas of how we develop a sense of self; a stable base to explore from and grow as an individual, but with an element of wobble that will still right itself, encouraging resilience. Each vessel is thrown on the wheel and then shaped by hand to give the rounded bottom and smooth contours. It is then burnished with a metal kidney and finally a tumbled pebble to give a shiny surface. This enhances the patterns and colours it takes up in the pit when fired, negating the need for glazing and allowing a finish that is taken from its interaction with its environment in the pit firing rather than an added surface. They remain porous in keeping with the idea that we are not fixed as individuals but will continue to respond to our environment.