Ash glazed pottery

Ancient Intrigue

“EARTH AND FIRE”

by Fauzi Tahir and Helen Betlem

Artist of the Month

Past Featured Artist

“EARTH AND FIRE”

Fauzi Tahir and Helen Betlem are members of Studio Pena founded in 1998 by a local sculptor Mad Anuar.

Mad’s idea in setting up the Pena studio was to attract people to become artists by teaching them the basics of painting, woodcarving, printing and welding.

He succeeded in getting together a small group of about 7 people who come together every weekend.

In 2004 the idea was born to setup their own ceramic line to create some income for the group. In no time Fauzi became the key player in the design and production of pottery. He works full time on the pottery that you will be seeing on the show with assistance from Helen.

The pottery is not made by using a wheel but every piece is handmade. After a design is agreed upon, a mold is produced to make only a very small edition of that particular model is fired.

Fauzi and Helen, who are both sculptors, started to make ceramic sculptures as well and some of their sculptures can be seen at this show at: Clay Expression Pottery Studio & Showroom - 9th June 2006 Up-Coming Events

Ash Glaze
Ash glaze was used for most of the pottery on the show. The earliest ash glazed pottery came about by accident.

As the ancient Chinese were firing their pottery, wood ash from the fire carried through the kiln and settled on the pots and the searing white heat melted it to a glaze.

Three thousand years later this technique has not changed and wood ash remains an important feature of pottery glaze making.

For us, the satisfaction in working with ash glazes comes from knowing that you are following a direct line from the potters of old as well as producing beautiful glazes with a material that you yourself have collected and prepared.

There is the excitement of never quite knowing what glaze will result from each different wood ash you use. Wood ash will melt at around 1260 degrees Celsius and begins to run down the side of the pot.

The longer the firing the more ash will accumulate on the pots. An old technique applied to our today’s pottery. Fauzi Tahir and Helen Betlem

Ash Glaze Ash glaze was used for most of the pottery on the show. The earliest ash glazed pottery came about by accident. As the ancient Chinese were firing their pottery, wood ash from the fire carried through the kiln and settled on the pots and the searing white heat melted it to a glaze.

Ash Glaze
Ash glaze was used for most of the pottery on the show. The earliest ash glazed pottery came about by accident.

As the ancient Chinese were firing their pottery, wood ash from the fire carried through the kiln and settled on the pots and the searing white heat melted it to a glaze.