Philippa de Burlet & Taja
Maker Showcase
Porcelain.
These two Devon-based established potters are both known for their work in porcelain. While Phil de Burlet’s work is thrown and intricately decorated tableware, Taja’s are hand built sculptures and tableware, and very often washed with a delicate celadon-based glaze.
About the exhibitors
Taja | Ceramics | Devon
Taja came to the UK from his native country Japan, to study oil painting in 1981 when he was 26 years old. Because of the tradition of pottery making in Devon, he gradually became interested in becoming a potter, and so his career as a ceramicist started.
He has used white and red earthenware to make small sculptural forms like very colourful mermaid candlesticks and fish bowls, soda glazed stoneware for large scale garden sculpture and outdoor murals. He even used brick clay to create 3m high human forms as a public commission.
As he passed the age of 50, his interest in pottery slowly became quieter. Maybe the Japanese side of his nature started appearing. So he decided to use porcelain clay. He was fascinated by its whiteness and translucent property.
In 2009, he was fortunate to have help from Arts Council UK to develop a porcelain blue glaze. Since then he has made hundreds of glaze tests.
Philippa de Burlet | Ceramics | Devon
Philippa makes a range of domestic ware from porcelain, smooth, strong, white clay.
The functional pieces are made from thrown porcelain which is hand-painted with underglaze colours and slip, applied when the pots are in their ‘raw’ state (unfired).
They are biscuit fired and then glaze fired at around 1260º - 1280º. This high temperature fuses the clay and the glaze together which results in strength and translucency, properties for which porcelain is known.
Most of Philippa's work is made for use and includes a range of bowls, vases and plates, with some more sculptural pieces from time to time.
She also works to commission.
Plan your visit
Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm.
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