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Parent Category: Projects from Journal Back Copies

Category: Projects 2005

Joan Bolton King

These can be plain, simple to make, or much more elaborate in shape and enamel finishing. This gives scope to try adventurous ideas - and cheaply so.

The outline of the design can be round, oval, kidney shaped or whatever you like, provided it will fit in your kiln on a flat mesh or firing pad. At first it is best to avoid anything with a base diameter of more than 10cm (4"), or 14cm by 6cm, including a turned up edge or side of less than 1-2cm. Do this with scallops or V shaped pleats, bent to less than the vertical. Perhaps you prefer the sides of an even depth all round or maybe more varied - try out your ideas on paper. Create a flat pattern, draw the edging round the base then fold and bend it roughly into its dish shape. It is usually better not to enamel a dish with a base which is absolutely flat. Therefore have fun planning a design or drawing which covers most of this area and can be raised up by repoussé methods - at its simplest by just drawing on the underside with an empty biro while the copper is resting on something soft (like a couple of pieces of kitchen roll or a bit of felt). This raised patterning will reduce the stresses which can build up and tend to warp a flat piece and also makes a stronger dish.

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