Ring Dish - Obvara decorated in Neutral Tans and Greys

Our handmade clay ring dishes are individually formed and decorated using techniques which make each a unique item. Even though we carefully fire each piece in the same manner, variation occurs and gives unique qualities to the piece.

These dishes are decorated in obvara, a medieval technique that pre-dates glazing in Europe! On a day when we're firing obvara, the kiln yard is filled with the aroma of stale beer and freshly baked bread. The air is filled with steam and smoke...the roar of the kiln changes with each opening of the kiln door. It's pretty exciting. 

Folks ask me how I got started making these small dishes. I don't knit or crochet, but even I can see how crazy it is to either have stitch markers laying around the table top or finding them in the sofa cushions. The dishes started out as stitch marker holders.

But since then, they have been adopted as ring dishes, notion plates, key dishes and on and on. They are not suitable for use with food, but don't let that stop you from using your imagination. 

Oh, about the lack of a "foot" on the plate and having it rock gently as you use it, it's by design and the reason we started to call them "rockn' diddles." Not everything has to be completely serious. We make these dishes to be useful and fun.

The plates are about3 3/4 inches, depending on the shape.

To read more about the obvara technique used to make this piece look here.