Crafts
Wondrausch, Mary (8 of 9) National Life Stories Collection: Crafts' Lives
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Type
sound
Duration
00:46:25
Shelf mark
C960/77
Subjects
Ceramics
Recording date
2007-09-20, 2007-09-25, 2007-10-03
Recording locations
interviewee's home, Compton, Surrey
Interviewees
Wondrausch, Mary, 1923- (speaker, female)
Interviewers
Hughes, Hawksmoor (speaker, female)
Abstract
Part 8: Short description of MW’s painting studio, mentions MW’s arthritis stopping her from climbing stairs. Long description of MW’s paintings, still lives, textiles, inspiration from Matisse and Cezanne, MW’s sense of colour, decorating frames, exhibiting at Surrey University and Petworth, pricing. [08:30] Comments on galleries’ mark-up of pots, remarks on the financial benefits of ceramic festivals. Remarks on people who buy MW’s paintings. [11:05] Description of MW’s pottery, formerly eighteenth century stables. Long detailed description of making a plate, Fremington clay, Spencroft clay, engobe, Bideford pipe clay, importance of not having a dead-white engobe, using a wooden tool [kidney], throwing. Comments on learning to make slipware from handling Seventeenth Century pots. MW’s crude line. Remarks on disliking filling the slip-trailers. Lettering, remarks on learning lettering from handling slipware and from Heather Child. [26:45] Description of MW’s imagery, remarks on no two plates looking the same, comments on MW’s interest in Adam and Eve imagery. Description of making a plate continued, turning the foot rim, decorating the back. [30:37] Comments on assistance from Angela and Michel, mentions MW’s cleaner, gardener and secretary, description of MW as an employer. Description of firing the kiln, MW’s good tempered glaze. [38:15] Story about visiting a potter who hadn’t bothered to open his kiln, remarks on the excitement and anxiety of opening the kiln. [40:44] Description of problems with when commissioned work goes wrong. Description of dealing with customers Remarks on working towards the Oxford Ceramic Festival (2007).
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