Bowled over by Bradfield Pottery
With Andrew Hazelden’s Christmas show opening today (Saturday), Jane Body takes a sneak peek at what’s to see at the Bradfield pottery.
Visiting Andrew Hazelden’s pottery is always a pleasant outing, here are a few things that caught my eye .
The new design at the pottery is ice cream bowls – a delight with a brush painted design round the edge, they fit perfectly in the hand .
Hands round bowl with ice cream, Curl up with a treat on a winters night , with a bowl in hand and a spoon in the other - Just as ideal for a hammock in summer.
The bowls, with their attractive decoration, look good on a kitchen shelf and will make a suitable gift to the foodie in your life, from greedy grandchild to godchildren .
After testing - extensively – no ice cream left of course – I am reassured there will be mince pies warming on the pottery’s woodstove during the show .
There is a whole range of functional ware: bowls, dishes and jugs,including bulb bowls .
Andrew explained: “The flat bottom bowl is so you can evenly space the bulbs and their roots .” -I thought what a good present for a gardener or someone who loves flowers, but hasn’t got a garden. You could plant a lot in them and have a really splendid display for early spring in a beautiful ceramic bowl decorated on the outside in the tin glaze tradition .
Andrew, inspired by hearing the owls most evenings from his pottery at Hewins Wood, Bradfield, decided for this winter to revisit his design for little owls on large jugs .The expressive eyes I found appealing and, well… owlish, he has captured the personality rather endearingly of owl with eye and claw in an oak motif.
Then there is the special midnight blue glaze with silver and copper lustre . There are not many contemporary potters practicing this technique. Andrew is an expert .
The candlesticks, with their beautiful glinting iridescent colours are perfect for a table setting for dark evenings ….and espresso cups in lustre .
Unlike the traditional tin glaze firing in the kiln the lustre is extremely unpredictable — if it comes out splendidly perfect , it will be a collectors item .
The colours are echoed in the paintings of guest artist Hannah Vickery who will be exhibiting with Andrew . She has 20 thousand followers on Instagram and I can see why.
Evocative, emotive, elemental stormy landscapes, they are Turneresque, moving and dramatic with layers of paint built up on the canvas.
Fresh from the landscape, I will be bringing my handmade Christmas wreaths ready for advent and the start of the winter show for the pottery doors and available to buy.
The Pottery, Hewins Wood , Bradfield RG7 6DH is open for the Christmas show, from today (December 2) to 23, open 1pm-5pm, closed Sundays.
