170. Ruth Paris, bowl

170. Ruth Paris, bowl

Paris is a Boston-area potter associated with Feet of Clay Pottery.

Light tan clay with black flakes (iron?). Glazed in white and green; foot ring left unglazed. Weight 446 g (16 oz).  Width of rim (maximum): 16.8 cm (6-1/2 in); of foot ring: 10.1 cm (4 in). Height: 6,3 cm (2-1/2 in).

This sits on the foot ring, which is about 0.6 (3/16 in) high on the outside. For a distance of 0.2 cm (1/16 in), the area just above the foot has been carved out to the depth of about 0.2 cm, creating a slight lip on the exterior base of the foot. The area within the foot ring has been hollowed out to a depth of about 0.4 cm (1/8 in). “Paris” was scratched on the surface of this area next to the edge. The walls rise in convex arc; the diameter expands rapidly to just above the halfway point, and the walls then rise almost vertically to 1 cm (3/8 in) below the rim. A groove encircles the bowl at this point, and the walls then flare outward at about a 45-degree angle to the lip of the rim. The lip is curled. The interior walls mirror the exterior. The surface of the glazed areas issmooth, as is the bare clay.

This was glazed in tan-white, with a thin green overglazed on two sides of the bowl. The black flakes melted during the firing, creating a mottled effect.

This is intended as a soup bowl or a small serving bowl. In practical terms, the flared rim creates a grasping point. The green areas are reminiscent of Oribe ware, but the glaze doesn't have the thickness and richness of the Oribe green.

This was made with the same clay and of the same glazes as the preceding two items.

Purchased at Feet of Clay, semiannual pottery sale, December 2021.