The Daily Palette Vintage

BUNNY MCBRIDE
Ash-glazed pitcher

Bunny McBride received his M.F.A. from Alfred University. He is head of the ceramics program at the University of Iowa, where he teaches beginning and graduate-level courses. He has received a National Endowment for the Arts grant from the Archie Bray Foundation, and his work has been exhibited internationally.

About the artwork (ash-glazed pitcher):
The earliest examples of ash glazes are from Shang Dynasty China (c. 1500 B.C.). As the name suggests, ash glazes are derived from wood or vegetable ashes. They were likely produced accidentally, the result of ash from the kiln fire being carried on a draft, settling onto the pots, and vitrifying in the intense heat. Three and a half millenia later, ash glazes are still used to add subtle and pleasing surfaces to decorative and functional ceramic pieces.

This page was originally published on September 7, 2004.