Find something on display: Base

Tiles like these were made by pressing clay into a mould and filling the pattern indented in the clay with slip (slightly diluted clay) of another colour, before glazing and firing. They were expensive and used in cathedrals, abbeys, churches and royal palaces. Many depict flowers or mythical beasts such as dragons. They can be joined in various ways for extended and repeat patterns.

Hydrous aluminium silicate, the ‘magic’ ingredient that gives strength and translucency to pottery when added to clay, creating porcelain.

Clive Soord is a sculptor in ceramics, and a ceramics tutor at Canterbury College. He can be seen within his studio in the photograph by Neil Sloman displayed in the Materials and Masters room.
“Ship of Fools is a work inspired by the old saying ‘too many steersmen sink the ship’. It’s a satirical political work. The tall ship is indicative of the ships we had when we had an empire. Westminster represents our seat of government on the poop deck, and we have a gaggle of politicians all waving their white papers pointing in different directions. The figurehead on HMS Britain is Thatcher, running the ship aground on the Grand Banks RBS, Lloyds etc.”

16th – 17th century, Delft, Netherlands
Tin-glazed earthenware
Tiles like these more usually had blue on white decoration. They were used for tiling fireplaces.
Presented by Miss Haddaway

1970s, Wedgwood
Designed by Susie Cooper
Bone china