Frances Priest
Collection, Grammar of Ornament, Byzantine No 3, 2020
Handbuilt ceramic forms, inscribed line, earthenware glaze and vitreous slip
10 x 90 x 20cm
Series: Grammar of Ornament, Byzantine No 3 Colour
CF0019
Photo: Shannon Tofts
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From her Edinburgh studio artist Frances Priest creates intricate and colourful ceramic objects that celebrate her fascination for ornament and pattern. The work explores and interprets languages of ornament from...
From her Edinburgh studio artist Frances Priest creates intricate and colourful ceramic objects that celebrate her fascination for ornament and pattern. The work explores and interprets languages of ornament from different cultures, places and periods in history and is heavily influenced by her travels and a book she grew up with, The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, first published in 1856. As a child, Frances read this book from cover to cover, and so began her love of pattern. Frances uses clay as a canvas on which to build richly drawn and layered surfaces of inlaid line, glaze colour and enamel decals. The results are intricate and beautiful.
Inspired by the Byzantine pages of The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, this piece reflects on the source material depicted in the colourful chromolithographic pages of the folio, documenting decorative designs in mosaic, stone carving, enamel and metalwork.
Inspired by the Byzantine pages of The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, this piece reflects on the source material depicted in the colourful chromolithographic pages of the folio, documenting decorative designs in mosaic, stone carving, enamel and metalwork.