Tulip treasury

Starting from my academic interest in the introduction of tulips in Transylvania and the proliferation of the "Oriental-type" tulip as a decorative motif in the repertoire of applied arts (stove tiles, carpets, embroidery, painted furniture etc.), I did a bit of research on how and how much tulips feature in contemporary applied arts. This thematic Etsy treasury as revealed that tulips still feature on an entire array of artifacts, such as ceramic, silver jewelry, textiles, jewelry beads, glass painting, but also painting. It seems the popularity of tulips has survived, despite their loosing the "novelty" element enjoyed during the Early Modern period.

Pinch pots

Another Etsy treasury that I have enjoyed created recently relates to my passion for miniatures, as it focuses on pinch bowls. Such small bowls, mostly made of glazed pottery, are used for spices, salt and pepper (cellars), dipping or preparing food, or even as catch-all. Enjoy this selection of miniature mortars and pestles, scallop bowls, simple bowls and cups, in wonderful colors and materials.

 

Redware and terracotta

The pottery-related Etsy treasuries I've been compiling continues with one dedicated to redware and terracotta. Though online definitions render more restricted definitions in terms of chronology (focusing on American redware), in practice the terms have wider applications. Thus, in my understanding redware is a hard, red stoneware. The term is also used to describe any common clay pottery that is reddish in color. Redware is also known as terra-cotta (different spellings encountered).

Stoneware

Stoneware is defined as a vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic made primarily from stoneware clay or non-refractory fire clay, fired at high temperatures, non-porous. It is in fact one of the most aesthetically promising mediums in contemporary ceramics, so that I created a selection of the best such items in the following Etsy treasury:

 

Second Ceramics Biennale in Cluj

This major event has reached its second edition and has shown great works and an impressive selection of international participants, but also frustrating drawbacks such as the lack of explanations (no work titles even!) and poor technical organization. The winners have been announced and there was no lack of controversy on that issue either.

Official site of the even is here. 
For an expert analysis (in Romanian), see Ioana's article here.

Ceramics exhibition at the Art Museum in Cluj

The exhibition entitled "The fire arts" is in fact an annual exhibition of artists from Cluj working in ceramics and glass. The pictures were taken at the opening, on October 9th 2008, at the National Art Museum in Cluj-Napoca.

Ceramic exhibition in cluj

 
The opening will be held on September 24th 2008 at the Art Museum in Cluj and it presents the works of two established ceramists from Hungary, Eva Szocs and Imre Schrammel. The exhibition is organized together with the City Council.