GALLERY

GLAZED AND AMAZED

Chloe Harford attended Plymouth College of Art & Design from 1995 – 1997 completing a National Diploma in Design Crafts as a jeweller. She was then invited to work in a ceramic studio and studied raku with two potters, Chris Hawkins & Dan Chapple.

In 1998 Chloe started Glazed & Amazed producing raku animal sculptures in a crackle glaze finish in their workshop in the Tamar Valley. For a while they had a partnership producing animals but Chris & Dan needed to concentrate on their own work & Chloe carried on alone, since then she has added numerous new animals to the range & experimented with different raku techniques resulting in the work she produces today, selling to galleries throughout the UK.

Chloe likes to give each piece its own character and has great fun designing all the different poses and her newest more colourful slip decorated pieces seem to have their own life and personality. This contrasts with the more simple shape & mythic properties of the moongazing hares.

Raku Firing Process

Raku is rapidly fired until glowing hot (1,000° c); it's then taken from the kiln whilst still glowing and placed in a container of wood shavings and sawdust: these instantly combust and the flames consume the oxygen causing the clay and the glaze to react. This heavy reduction atmosphere draws the metal in the glaze up to the surface creating the rich iridescent colours and lustre's found on the turquoise glazes. The ensuing smoke carbonises the clay resulting in the characteristic black body, this unique firing process means that no two pieces are alike, the tong marks you often find on each piece are a reminder of this technique.