I enjoyed learing how to mark the finds today, each piece has a code (relating to the dig) drawn on with pen and ink. They may also have subsequent numbers added by the museum they end up in. I have often been intrigued by these markings and this is something I have been considering using in my own work. I could perhaps use a code that relates to where the sherds were found – and ordinance survey grid reference, or to the number of pieces made or glazes tested. The images below are of some of the pieces I have marked at SWARCH.

I am working on producing a Summer bowl and a Winter bowl. The Summer bowl may eventually be made in porcelain but until I get a shape I am happy with I am going to continue to use stoneware. The Winter bowl has been made using black chunky clay, I am finding that I can thow with this clay without too much trouble especially if I use slip instead of water. Turning it is a little trickier but also not impossible. I tried throwing these bowls with stoneware and then adding a layer of the black chunky as a slip, mainly to keep costs down but I am not happy with the results, the beauty of the black clay is the way it tears and distorts around the edges whereas the stoneware looks too neat. I guess I am just going to have to get selling if I am going to continue to use the black clay.