slipware

The use of trailed slip of differing colours is one of the earliest forms of decoration. The application of a watery mix of clay is piped on to the surface of the ware over a lead glaze before firing so as to form a pattern. Often the pattern is of a fairly basic geometrical design though in the seventeenth century some more elaborate pieces were made which depicted subjects such as people and houses etc. also at this time there was a fashion for the potter to put his name on the front of the piece. Many of these were produced at Wrotham in Kent from the early sixteen hundreds which bear initials and in Staffordshire from a little later bearing various names with Thomas Toft probably being the most famous. 

slipware dish circa 1700

It is unusual in the world of pottery for the name of the manufacturer to be placed on the front of the ware so one can only assume that these would have been regarded as works of art at the time and not used for domestic purposes. Probably they would have taken pride of place on a dresser or dining table in a quite affluent household. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Fitzwilliam museum in Cambridge have extensive collections of some large pieces which are certainly impressive. 

Wrotham type tyg 1713

Often commemorating royalty, marriages and other such special occasions they are particularly distinctive and sometimes turn up having remained in a family for generations and often bare a date. In general, however, later slip decorated wares are of a rather simpler nature with wavy lines and dots making patterns on the piece. However although the design is simple achieving it requires great skill and practice as, for example, if the slip stops flowing half way through a line it would be very difficult to restart from the exact point. In the nineteenth century, pieces can be found with the name of what the dish was intended to contain such as mutton, pork, beef etc. 

British slip decorated wares have turned up in America and are helpful in dating archaeological sites. Notably sgraffito wares from the North Devon area which were exported through the ports at Bideford and Barstaple. These are among the earliest wares found being produced by covering the piece with slip and then scraping through to show the body of the item beneath thus forming a design. Wares from Sussex were produced by the combined use of sgraffito directly on to the body of the ware with the groove being filled with slip. 

18th century dish

The technique of combing, used from the eighteenth century, is where slip is trailed in parallel lines across the piece then a comb is used to draw the slip in to a sort of crisscross. This attractive design can be produced with one or a number of different coloured slips which are generally piped simultaneously on to the ware. Similarly marbled slip wares are produced by skillfully and surprisingly accurately applying swirls of different coloured slips on to the piece then twisting turning and shaking it until a random looking marbling is achieved. The potter’s skill is knowing when to stop before the slip either sets or the colours start to mix and merge in to each other as well as ensuring both the slip and the body are of the right consistency. This marbled effect probably led to the production of the marbled wares of the eighteenth century. 

Bernard Leech studio dish circa 1925

The technique of using slip for decorating pottery has been used right up until the present day and is now used by a number of studio potters all around the country. Famously Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew produced pieces using this method which are now highly prized. Often the technique is used to write a name or inscription on a piece to personalise it.