The Contour Vase

A matte black neck gives way to a speckled band of cream and dark iron, then to a warm rust-pink body ringed with throwing lines. Before glazing, we brushed on a manganese wash, a dark mineral stain. It settles into every groove left by the wheel, so the rings read as shadow and relief under the glaze. Small blue-gray spots float across the surface where the glaze broke through.