Decorative Saggar Fired Vase with Cover, Handmade Wheel shops Thrown, One of a Kind

Decorative Saggar Fired Vase with Cover, Handmade Wheel Thrown, One of a Kind, Carved Pattern at Base of Pot

ABOUT SAGGAR FIRED WARE

A piece of pottery that has not been fired (green ware) is burnished many times (rubbed with smooth stone or other object) and then coated with many layers of liquid clay (terre sigilata). This piece is burnished again between each of those layers of liquid clay. At this point the unfired pot is fragile and can break easily. It is then bisque fired and sprayed with a cobalt carbonate mixture. Copper wire can be wrapped around it for chemical reactions. The pot is then put into a clay container larger than the pot, packed with straw or other combustible substances, covered and fired in a gas kiln for over 24 hours. It is waxed after firing. The Egyptians and other early cultures used this method to waterproof clay vessels. There are no glazes used in this method and each piece is truly one of a kind.

Saggar fired pottery is for decorative use only. It is not suitable for holding water and is not food safe.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lana Kessler is an award-winning ceramics artist and graphic designer. Although her forms and shapes are reminiscent of Egyptian and Asian styles, she has interpreted these into contemporary forms. While she still enjoys working on functional ware, her true passion lies with raku, saggar and smoke-fired ware for her art pieces. These are truly one of a kind works of art that can never be duplicated.

Lana has been featured in numerous juried art exhibitions and has won several awards for her unique pottery (see select list shops below). Two of her raku pots were selected for presentation to dignitaries in Japan. David Rago of Rago Art Auctions in Lambertville, NJ personally selected a raku vase by Lana for auction in October 2016. Another raku vase was sold at the Charles Cowan Auction that same year. These are two of the most prestigious auction houses for fine ceramics.

Select Exhibitions and Awards:
• Art Alliance's New Jersey Statewide Juried Exhibition (AWARD WINNER in 2000)
• Monmouth County Arts Council Juried Exhibition at the Monmouth Museum 2000, 2002, 2003 (AWARD WINNER)
• Monmouth Festival of the Arts Juried Exhibition (Exhibitor for 12 years)
• Monmouth County Library month-long, one-woman invitational exhibition
• Art in the Park Exhibit, Long Branch, (AWARD WINNER in 2009 and 2010)
• Monmouth County Senior Art Contest Award Winner in 2010