Memories, History, Treasure
Memories
As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved collecting things, especially when I’m out and about. I grew up in Whitby, on the North East coast, and I spent a lot of time outside. My favorite things to look for were usually at the beach – sea glass, fossils, shells, and rocks. But I also gathered other treasures, especially from the edge of ploughed fields behind our house. I would flip over white pieces of pottery, hoping to find a beautiful blue pattern on the reverse. Over the years, I’ve collected a lot of these pieces and often wondered what to do with them.
But, why am I so attracted to these precious fragments?
Possibly due to childhood experiences of visiting homes with vibrant china collections displayed in glass cabinets, just out of reach. The memories of a large blue and white platter on a Welsh dresser, sparkling faceted glass vases, Swarovski crystal animals, costume jewellery, and the occasional Whitby Lucky Duck!
And who could forget watching the Antiques Roadshow, where huge porcelain jardinieres with intricate patterns were valued at thousands of pounds, and beautiful perfume bottles made of red or blue glass, resembled rubies and sapphires more than anything else.
Remnants of these pieces are out there to be found and I still get enjoyment from collecting sea glass and pottery; the thrill of discovering tiny fragments of those memories during visits to the beach and walks around Yorkshire.
History
So where did all these treasures originate from, and what are they doing in the water and fields of Yorkshire?
Much of the sea glass you find on the north sea coast today actually comes from old bottles left behind by the glass making industry around Sunderland. However, there are stories of the contents of shipwrecks, like crockery and bottles, creating their own share of precious glass and ceramic pieces on our beaches.
But when it comes to those bits of pottery in the fields, people have different ideas. Some think it’s just farmworkers of old, chucking out their broken plates and bottles, while others think much of it could be from long-gone village dumps. But somehow or other the crockery pieces became ploughed into the land and dispersed across the countryside over many years.
Whatever the reason for these fragments ending up on the beach, or in a river or field I am very glad of it. And who knows, maybe one day I might find something of real historical significance, given the local landscape, Roman or Viking perhaps.
Treasure
While these tiny pieces of glass and pottery may not hold any monetary value, they hold a special place in my heart.
Now, as a ceramicist, I have an exciting opportunity to incorporate these treasures into my creations, adding a sense of meaning to my work, more than I have previously been able to do. I am eager to craft beautiful ceramics that will lead their own lives, each with a unique journey until they eventually break and are discarded, beginning the cycle anew.
I hope that the pottery I create not only captivates people now, but also holds the potential to become cherished “treasure” for others in the years to come, whether it be intact or as broken pieces waiting to be re-discovered…
SLS CERAMICS 