Another of Estelle's Decorated Plates

This is another of Estelle's decorated plates showing the similarity to the Japanese paintings in the old book she was given. Beside iron oxide she often used the small quantities of test glazes we made which were not suitable to use on a large pots. Haystack orange and chrome green were two she used as well as a blue glaze that our customers liked but we thought was garish.

One of Estelle's Decorated Plates

This is one of Estelle's decorated plates that Fujii Sensei saw and thought was so much like the early Japanese decorations illustrated in the drawing book that I posted on the 24th. He gave this old book to Estelle because of the remarkable similarity of her painting techniques even though she had never been given any lessons.

Japanese Drawing Book

This old drawing book from the early Meiji period was given to Estelle by the Master Potter from Himeji City when he saw some of her early decorated glazed pieces. See my April 30th Blog showing one of Estelle's hanging bottles.

John Scott Architect

This lovely church in Havelock North was designed by the late John Scott. Yesterday my son and I went looking at some of John's work and took photographs for his Blog which you might like to take a look at.

Spider-web

Here is the sparkly spider-web I promised. I have seen better photographs of spider-webs but this one attracted me on a recent foggy morning.

Jonquils by Pond

Spring is coming although today one has to wonder. These flowers look lovely by the Japanese type lantern that I made when we were firing our anagama kiln. The bridge is made from two old railway sleepers to cross a narrow portion of our pond and functions very well.

Second Ramma Screen

Here is a photo of my other Ramma screen. This one depicts a Temple in a landscape of trees. The first one is of Mount Fuji and its surrounding landscape. These screens are carved on both sides and were used in older Japanese houses above the sliding doors as a ventilation screen between rooms.

Japanese Ramma Screen

When Estelle and I were in Japan we looked many times to try and find one of these old screens without any luck. Last year two came up for auction in New Zealand and I was able to purchase both at, what I thought, a very reasonable price. How they got to New Zealand I do not know.

Foggy Morning

This picture I took yesterday morning about 8.30am. The fog did not clear until late morning and left everything very damp including the spider webs. Watch out for a picture of a sparkly web sometime soon.

Large Glazed Platter

This platter is one that I made a long time ago. I have just recently re-purchased it from the auction of Doreen Blumhardt's collection. It is probably the largest of this type that I made, measuring 455mm x 245mm, with sculptured feet giving it an overall height of 45mm. I am not sure where or when Doreen bought this platter but it was probably from one of the NZ Society of Potter's annual exhibitions.