making functional pieces
I have been making incense burners. after a chat with Petros at the Pragmata Gallery in Tokyo I thought that as Japanese people like to buy beautiful things that also have a purpose, incense burners would be fun to have a go at – and they don’t have to be waterproof. they do have to have feet, because they get hot, and they have to have a lid, and holes for the smoke to come out of. so this is an adaptation of my usual bottle shape, quite similar to the jars I made last year.
first the main cylinder of the body
joined with slip for glue
and a little extra pressure with small acorns for buttons
the base cut out to fit
slip applied
the edges pushed down to make the foot
then four actual feet added
the top
the gap sealed
paddled into shape
a little bit for a handle
attached
the cut made all round with a knife, a notch for placing,
the bottom half
and a little piece added on the inside to hold the lid
back together and the last thing, four holes cut out to allow the smoke out.
I made four today, four yesterday, and four on friday. probably there will be another four tomorrow. I would like to make some black ones as well …..