The purpose of yesterday's wet walk was to pick up the present that a friend kindly bought for us. It is a piece of stoneware by the ceramicist John Struthers.
To call it a pot is somehow not to do it justice.
Its catalogue description is "Untitled, 17cm.", but according to the maker's website it could come under the heading of "Standing Form".
Smooth to the touch but satisfyingly weighty in the hand, I think this is a beautiful object.
John Struthers lives in Orkney, somewhere I've yet to visit, but which inspires his work. The seascape must have been influential in this piece - in the place where the North Sea and the Atlantic meet, the colours are straight from the ocean, and it's not hard to imagine the maelstrom that can be the Pentland Firth when you look at the interior:-
Thankyou again, generous Prof.
It is a truly beautiful gift - you are right about the colours, they are so evocative. Lucky you!
Posted by: Kim (Ragged Roses) | 30 March 2007 at 12:44 PM
I dream of going to Orkney someday, and to as many of the other islands along the coast of Britain as humanly possible. We were just speculating here yesterday, on the fact the children need to get to Italy some day, to see where half their family's from. But I admitted that wasn't my first choice for a foreign trip. For me it's the U.K. and Ireland that call very strongly to me, though I'm still not convinced once I get there I'll ever be able to leave again, so I'd better tread carefully...
Posted by: Bluestalking Reader | 30 March 2007 at 03:42 PM
Lucky girl, Karen. It is beautiful and you are right, 'pot' does not do it justice. I can see a lovely stem of white lilies in that beautiful piece of art or a few glads, or roses, or tall tulips, or ...
Posted by: Peg | 30 March 2007 at 05:58 PM
Your photography is so very lovely. Have had to scroll through recent posts two or three times to catch up and to soak in all the stunning aspects of what you've caught on film (or on digital card, as it were).
Love Edinburgh, too! The gray-blackness of the stone in that city was so overwhelming! Looking forward to perusing more of your pics with my morning coffee.....
Posted by: a simple yarn | 31 March 2007 at 08:48 AM
How super - what a wonderful houseguest. I had popped into the Scottish Gallery to pick up this month's 'Selvedge' and had a quick look at the exhibition which was very good. I could find space for many of those pieces. However, I resolved there and then to take a (first) trip to Orkney some time and visit his studio - good excuse to go or what!
Posted by: Marianne | 02 April 2007 at 05:51 PM