English Chargers: Narrative and Commemoration.

Wandering through the English Pottery area at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, my attention is consistently drawn towards these large, highly decorated plates and chargers. There were two distinct types of decoration, both beautiful and intricate.

The most vibrant and colorful were the earthenware with tin glaze. This was a very popular method in Europe during the 17th Century due to the increase in trade from China. Tin glaze is commonly known today as maiolica glaze or majolica, faience, or delftware, depending on where it was created. The glaze is an opaque white tin glaze that has been painted with vibrant blues, greens, yellows, and deep purple made from a variety of materials, melting seamlessly into the background of white. This produces vibrant works with gestural, patterned scenes, imitating the pure white and blue porcelain works coming from China.

This charger from 1652 in England is a colorful depiction of the nativity scene of Jesus' birth. I find the patterns in the fabric and loose line-work of the building particularly engaging. These images are much looser than the biblical narrative paintings at the time.

This depiction of Saint Jerome in an act of penitence in the desert is beautifully tragic. The atmosphere painted in the sky and the detail of his surroundings create a very emotive scene. The loose gestural drawings of the branches and fabric create movement in the composition.

The second form of glazing was earthenware with slip decoration and lead glaze. These chargers must be the precursor to the 1970's retro era of rootbeer, amber, and cream colored glazes that I remember seeing on souvenir mugs and salt shakers in my grandmother's hutch.

This charger is a commemoration to Charles II, depicting the Archbishop of Canterbury placing the crown on his head. Many chargers in this similar style celebrate momentous occasions of prominent figures.

In a somewhat less heroic scene, this charger documents the time when King Charles II hides in an oak tree during the battle of Worcester.

With these unique inspirations, I have created my own set of commemorative platters. This first one is of my father's resting place in Gold Hill, Oregon.

Across the street from this cemetery is the rushing Rogue River. My dad used to jump off brides into the river with his brothers as a teenager.