Early Christmas pressie...?

With gently rounded sides rising to a slightly incurved rim, resting on a short straight foot, applied overall with a very glossy bubble-suffused glaze of a pale-blue tone, the interior with two splashes transmuting from a vivid lavender colour to a deeper purplish-blue, the exterior with two splashes of similar brilliance, the glaze draining from the mouthrim to a deep mushroom-brown tone and falling just short of the neatly cut footring to reveal the buff body burnt chocolate...

Doesn't sound like much, does it? However, the description (and picture) is of a Jun bubble bowl, currently in the Sotheby's Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art auction next week. And it's valued at a slightly eye-watering £250-300,000...

These bowls aim to create the perfect illusion of a soap bubble - hence the name. It's Northern Song (960- 1127AD) and I'd like it for christmas. Please.

Categories: Art, Life, Priceless

New lensware...

While my Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM (and the slightly longer 70-300mm) lenses have served me well over the past few months, I was beginning to get a little frustrated by the lack of depth of field control, which has been hampering my creative instincts.
I have therefore ordered a new lens (after much research and discussion) - my first prime - the Canon 60mm f2.8 Macro USM. I'm hoping it will allow me not only to take more macro pictures (the 17-85mm is limited to about 0.2x) but will also allow me to experiment with portraiture.
It's almost too late to visit the Angus McBean: Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery for some ideas (it ends on 22 October). I might just make it next weekend - or even Friday night (the Gallery is open until 9pm).

Categories: Art, Gear

Miyoko Onishi ceramic sculpture

Also at Ceramics in the City, and at the Origin Craft Fair(week one) at Somerset House, was Miyoko Onishi. Her hanging sculptures were one of the high points of the Ceramics in the City fair, but her small vases, bowls and plates were also on display. Looking like a flock of birds, or perhaps a cloud of petals, they hang, suspended in long streams (see picture).
My wife gave me one of the hanging pieces for my birthday, but I couldn't resist a small, almost matt black vase, to add to my ever-expanding collection of Japanese ceramacists working in London (see also Akiko Hirai and Mizuyo Yamashita).
All I need now is a little more space to display it all...

Categories: Art, Life, Style

Ceramics in the City

It was Ceramics in the City a few weeks ago, at the Geffrye Museum, London's annual ceramics fair and part of the Design London festivities. As usual, the event fell on / around my borthday, and (as usual) I couldn't resist adding to my collection.
First up was another piece by Helen Rondell. I think I may have been a victim of some subliminal advertising. Not only is the piece the same as (or very similar to) the one on her flyer for the event (pictured), but it was also exhibited right next to a piece that's very similar to a previous purchase. Helen was also selling some new bits of jewelry - small raku pendants - which are beautiful. If only she could make even smaller bits and turn them into cufflinks...
I also bought two kissing vases from Akiko Hirai, who was also exhibiting some fantastic tea pots.

Categories: Design, Life, Style