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Flare: C.1108-2016

An image of Ceramic form
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An image of Ceramic form
An image of Ceramic form
An image of Ceramic form
An image of Ceramic form
An image of Ceramic form
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Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Flare

Maker(s)

Ceramicist: Shaw, Mella

Entities

Categories

Description

Porcelain, hand-built, body-stained and fired.

A continuous waving wall-form of tiny porcelain bricks. The bricks, of varying length, are stained grey, grey-blue and pale blue and spaced evenly in 28 layers, with spaces between, to create a basket-like wall. Standing on its side with the front edge slightly flaring, the form evokes continuous, flowing motion and precarious balance.

Notes

History note: Purchased from the maker

Legal notes

Purchased using the Applied Arts Duplicates Fund

Measurements and weight

Depth: 19 cm
Height: 47.7 cm
Width: 61 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (2016-11-21) by Shaw, Mella

Dating

21st Century, Early
Production date: AD 2014

Note

Mella Shaw (b. 1978) explores tipping points, thresholds and edges in her tilting constructions and is interested in ‘the playful tension present at moments of transition… [and] the inherent versatility and richness of opportunity provided by ceramics as a material’. Shaw studied anthropology at Durham University before completing an MA in ceramics and glass at the Royal College of Art, in 2013. Alongside her ceramics, Shaw has worked at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery and The Fitzwilliam Museum. She writes for craft and ceramics publications and is a visiting lecturer on the BA Ceramic Design course at Central Saint Martins, London.

Components of the work

Decoration composed of stain

Materials used in production

Porcelain

Techniques used in production

Hand-building : Porcelain, hand-built, body-stained and kiln slumped.

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1108-2016
Primary reference Number: 215998
Entry form: 1323

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 30 May 2017 Updated: Monday 18 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Flare" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215998 Accessed: 2025-12-06 20:24:42

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215998 |title=Flare |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 20:24:42|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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