black tie

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 is a coiled piece made from white earthenware clay, which stands approximately 22cm high x 27cm in diameter. It is carved with applied gargoyles and ribbons tied in bows, which were made separately in handmade press moulds and attached to the piece with slip. Then indented with pattern  it has been fired to 1160c.  Coloured glaze has been rubbed into the carving and wiped away, as well as being painted on to the surface area before being fired again to 1080c. Coloured enamels, gold lustre and mother-of-pearl have then been applied to some areas of the outside to give more definition and fired again to 800c.  A final layer of paint has been added and heated to a temperature of 150c to add metallic colours.  When the glazing process has been completed, different width wires have been wrapped around found objects, threaded through pierced areas of the rim. Large glass marbles are glued to the base of this piece to provide the feet and tiny nails have been glued to the surface of the dinner jackets in a flowing motion.  
It is named, signed and dated by the artist August 2008.
Sold Newbridge Arts Trail 2023