Book Review - Lettering on Ceramics

by Mary White
ISBN: 1-57498-216-8 $24US 96 pages, full colour photos

Another in the series of A&C Black co-productions with
the American Ceramic Society, this handbook features the
ancient tradition of writing on clay. Beginning with a chap-
ter entitled ‘A Brief History’, White introduces the reader
to cuneiform, the earliest application of symbol on clay
tablets in Mesopotamia. She then moves through time to
Egyptian hieroglyphs, Phoenician, Chinese and Greek
pottery, before outlining the tradition in Persian ceramics
of the 13™ century, slipware of 17" century Britain and
Italian maiolica. By the end of this concise introduction,
White establishes the intertwined histories of writing and
ceramics.

An accomplished calligrapher, White is a member of the
Society of Scribes and Illuminators. She is also a gifted
ceramist and combines her passions seamlessly. She covers
technical ceramic aspects in “Tools and. Materials’, ‘Meth-
ods’, ‘Form’, and in the last of these instructional chapters,
‘Alphabets’, White includes nine pages of lettering to copy.
These include Uncials - the letters first used by the Ro-
mans and later by the Irish in the Book of Kells, a 13
century Gothic alphabet, and a 16% century Italian cur-
sive.

In addition to its how-to instructional aspect, this book

features the work of twenty ceramists using the tradition of
lettering on clay, each with a completely unique aesthetic.
Chapter six, ‘Artists Using Lettering’ features incised,
stamped, painted, Arabian, Latin and Chinese calligraphy
on classical vessels, slab sculptures, urns and. reliquaries.
White's definition of ‘lettering’ includes pictograms, ide-
ograms and symbols. Some pots are covered with full po-
etry or prose, others with single characters or words. The
attists interpretation of lettering is as varied as its applica-
tion.

The quality of photographs in this book is excellent. There
are several full-page images of work in addition to a number
of instructional photos. White also includes an index, anda
ceramic suppliers’ listing as well as that of calligraphy sup-
pliers in the UK, Europe and North America. As with most
of these handbooks, the length and depth leaves us looking
for supplemental material. But for an overview of the topic,
it is as complete as can be in 96 pages. Anyone interested in
surface embellishment will find this an interesting read, and
those interested in the long tradition of writing on pots will
want to have this handbook on their studio bookshelf.

For further information on Mary White's calligraphy, see
this web site: http://www.clas.co.uk/gallery_fellow.html

Rachelle Chinnery

February 5 — March 1 Gary Merkel

March 4-29 Elaine Brewer White
March 20 Canadian Clay Symposium
April 1-May 3 Keith Lehman

May 6-31

June 3-28 Aaron Nelson

July 1-August 2
August 5 — 30th

Lynn Johnson

September 2-Oct 4 Mary Fox
October 7 — November 1 Shirley Inouye
November 4-29 Judy Weeden

December 3-31 PG Members Show

PGBC Gallery 2004 Exhibition Schedule

Sandra Ramos, Mas Funo, Sam Kwan, Priscilla Chan Asian Heritage Month Group Show

Alan Burgess, Meg Burgess, Sue Hara,

Gordon Hutchens, Cathi Jefferson, Susan LePoidevin,
Glenys Marshall-Inman, Meira Mathison,

Laurie Rolland, Kinichi Shigeno and Pat Webber.

DIVERCI “TEA”
‘Chairmen of the Bored’
Presenters Exhibition

Fantastic Service

New Dimensions in Dinnerware
Moving Shadows
Fired Up 20th Anniversary

Title TBA
Sea Escape

Partners: Metaphors for Human
Relationships

Seasonal Traditions

6 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter

February 2004