Thames Strata III

Inspired by the sculptural forms of Hans Coper, Thames Strata III is thrown from alternating layers of porcelain and wild Thames clay, creating distinctive bands that run throughout the vessel. The Thames clay was hand-dug from the Thames riverbed and left unfiltered, allowing stones and natural inclusions to remain. These impurities become an integral part of the work, lending a rich, earthy texture and a direct connection to the landscape from which the clay came.

A soft green glaze is applied only part of the vessels, echoing moss, lichen and weathered stone, while the unglazed section reveals the raw strata of the layered clays beneath. This contrast celebrates both the refined qualities of porcelain and the rugged character of the wild Thames clay.

Although perfectly straight when it entered the kiln, the differing shrinkage rates of the two clays, together with the natural inclusions, caused the form to shift during firing. The resulting gentle movement gives the vessel its distinctive, organic profile—a reminder that the materials themselves play an active role in shaping the final piece.

Thames Strata III is part of an ongoing series entitled The Thames Clay Series