Horus Eye Pottery

Examples

The following are examples of previous work to give you an idea of what options might appeal. This is keeping in mind that changes in glazes or inconsistencies in firing may change results from previous examples.

This mug is an example of an underglaze on white clay with an organic flower/vine design all over the lower body.

Carved detail of leaves and flowers on a mug in green on white clay
Detail of reverse sgraffito on a mug

This kind of decoration can be done in varying different colours, even on the same piece, which can remain true if glazed in clear, or be muted if glazed in a colour.

Blue slip on white clay - carved to leave blue papyrus grasses and birds in blue
Blue on white glazed in clear
Reproduction Persian plate with black slip decoration painted and carved through, glazed in celedon green
Black slip on white clay with celedon green glaze
Lidded honey pot decorated with sgraffito bees, glazed in amber glaze
Red clay slip on white clay body, amber glaze

Then there is a speckled clay that I like working with and looks quite nice with muted glazes or clear.

Saucer for berry bowl, made with speckled white clay, rim painted in red underglaze,, sgraffitoed, slip trailed and glazed in an off white glaze muting the decoration
This rim has red underglaze painted on, carved through and an off white semi-opaque glaze overtop
Butter dish in speckled white clay with black banding on lid and base with carving through black on lid
This butter dish was banded with black slip and carved through with a clear glaze
Berry bowl & tray trimmed with brown underglaze on rim, carved through and glazed in an off white glaze
Rims were painted in brown underglaze, carved through and glazed overall with an off white semi-opaque glaze.

The red clay examples have a variety of effects. The red clay does tend to look best *not* glazed in clear. I find clear glazes on the red clay I use most often make it look kind of dead. There are a few other glazes that are translucent and tinted, but manage to make the red clay have depth. The third photo here has a variety of coloured slips painted on a wet piece and carved through while still wet, then glazed in a semi-opaque yellowish coloured glaze that breaks quite nicely on the carving. Unlike the other carving methods, this one is quite loose.

Inside of large bowl carved through white slip to red clay in Persian lattice pattern - Bates
Not my normal red- quite a bit lighter with white slip carved through
4 red clay mugs decorated with slip and carved through in a variety of glazes
All 4 mugs are red clay with white slip and different glaze treatments – none clear.
Sgraffito detail photo of mug
Showing detail of sgraffito decoration on a slipped mug while very wet.

Here are a couple of additions showing my most recent carving trend.

Green ware mugs painted in blue and green slips, carved through in flowers and vines
The right vine mug is pretty typical of how I’m doing vine work right now.
Greenware mug painted in cobalt slip and carved through with curving vines in relief
This cobalt slipped mug is another example of current vine carving