A quality large Roy Cowan, cNZM MBE (1918-2006) salt glazed…
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A quality large Roy Cowan, cNZM MBE (1918-2006) salt glazed floor pot, striking incised radiating circular and lineal decoration in dark cobalt blue/black and pale blue tones, the three dominant radiating circular motifs in an encircling band, tall ovoid form with rich caramel glaze to the narrow circular rim and interior. Provenance: Purchased by our vendor from a Wellington gallery circa 1990. Note: Cowan was a full time N.Z. Potter, illustrator and print maker, educated at Wellington College then went to teachers training College in Wellington where he first met artist Roland Hipkins. Biographical details available. He was made a Companion of the N.Z. Order of Merit for Services to Pottery in the 2000 New Year Honours, height 93 cm.

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  • Oviform /ovoid - The outline loosely resembling the shape of an egg.
  • Salt Glazed - Salt glazing involves throwing salt into the kiln when it is at its highest temperature, usually around 2,300 to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit (1,260 to 1,320 degrees Celsius). The salt vaporizes and forms a glaze on the surface of the pottery, creating a range of effects depending on how the salt is applied and the firing conditions. This glazing method was first developed in Germany in the 15th century and quickly became popular throughout Europe and North America. It was particularly popular for making stoneware pottery, such as jugs, crocks, and other utilitarian objects.

    Salt glazes can produce a range of colors, including gray, brown, blue, and even pink or purple in some cases. The texture of the glaze is typically rough and pebbled, with a matte or satin finish. The process of salt glazing can be unpredictable, with variations in temperature and salt application leading to subtle variations in the finished product.

    Salt glazing is still used by potters and ceramic artists although it is less common than it was in the past.
  • Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.

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