Return to Vessel Forms

Discussing the works in the Ceramic Contemporaries 4 exhibition Knowledge and Understanding: Vessel Forms Taryn Childs Mayone Material: earthenware Technique: coiled and burnished Childs has been living in East Africa, and is influenced by traditional African ceramics, such as water jars and other domestic wares, made by the coiling method and given deep burnished surfaces. In less technological, non-western societies making ceramics is almost always women’s work and a number of themes and issues can be raised when looking at this piece. For younger pupils explain the references to African pots, and discuss the visual qualities that recall them. For older pupils (key stages 4 and above), expand the discussion to include notions of ethnicity and gender. Which types of objects might we associate with men, and which with women?   Pots for sale in Africa Making a pot in Africa