Thursday 4 June 2009

Ceremonial Bowls by Samantha Allan



These bowls, which are part of the Contemporary Folk Ware Exhibition, are inspired by a combination of the romance of early Delft ware and maritime Scrimshaw, both of which commemorated special unions and historical events. 

(Delft Bowl circa. 1690 - Victoria and Albert Museum) 


Each bowl is hand made using a collage and lacquer technique which combines images of broken pieces of delft ware with words found engraved on pieces of 18th century scrimshaw such as ‘Homeward Bound’ and ‘I’ll sail the waves if you wait for thee’. Samantha personalises the bowls with a specific date and pair of initials that the customer gives her in order to celebrate a special day, such as a wedding or birthday.


Samantha has had a long standing interest in scrimshaw work and a love of the sea. She puts it down to the weekly trips she made as a child to the 19th Century Docks Museum in Hull where giant whale skeletons are suspended from the ceilings and a soundscape of whale calls is played throughout the vast rooms.



(18th century engraved whales tooth - known as Scrimshaw)


‘Scrimshaw, which is basically the tattooing of pieces of whale bone and teeth, is an uneasy thing for me to be inspired by. My fascination for both whales and the scrimshaw causes a tension as one has to be sacrificed to make the other. But at the time of the great whaling fleets, in the 18th and 19th century, when men had no choice but to be away for years at a time, I find it moving that the scenes on scrimshaw often depict the sailor’s longing for things such as houses, loved ones, dances. It is this sense of longing that I wanted to create in these bowls”. 


Samantha’s work which combines various historical events has led to commissions from museums and art galleries across the UK. 


Bowls £65 each form the Contemporary Folk Ware Exhibition 

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