Keywords: australia, black, ceramic, etching, fremantle, piercing, bowls, pierced, polished, porcelain, thrown

Etched Leaf Vessel 2010

Sandra Black

Dimensions

80 x 220 (diam) mm (largest)

Materials

Bowls (three): ice porcelain that has been thrown, pierced, etched and polished a number of times

Artist statement

‘As a child I grew up with lace tablecloths and doilies on the surfaces of fine polished wooden furniture. Each week my dressing table was dusted and the doilies replaced with freshly washed and starched ones. They were kept in a finely carved camphorwood chest to protect them from silverfish. My paternal grandmother and aunts were great embroiderers and crochet-makers, so these objects were always highly valued for their craftsmanship and beauty.

I have been a ceramic artist for over 35 years. One of my most consistent areas of exploration has been in the carving and piercing of vessel forms to enable the passage of light, in and through the vessel, creating works which have been described as like coral or lace. The transmission of light and the making of patterns, shapes and shadows are an inherent part of both lace fabric and the pierced vessels I make.’