Holy Water Vase

Matthias Kaiser handbuilt vessel in dark stoneware clay with porcelain slip. The clay contains grains of iron ore and quartz that create a gritty texture. Shaped on a kick wheel in a single sitting with lugs added once the vessel is finished. The top portion is covered with layers of porcelain slip and the body is treated with layers of porcelain slip that are then wiped off to create a varied surface. The inside is coated with a clear glaze made from a mixture of reed ash, feldspar, and apple wood ash that is treated with iron ore. Kaiser drew his inspiration for the shape of the vessel from bottles that pilgrims used on their journeys to carry holy water.

• 21 x 21 cm

Matthias Kaiser first started to work with clay in New York in the late 80s and early 90s, transitioning from a previous focus on music to a new focus on pottery. In Japan he worked for two years with acclaimed pottery masters in the towns of Seto and Karatsu, picking up techniques and aesthetics that have come to define his practice. For the past 25 years, he has worked from his studio in Grafendorf in the Austrian countryside where he uses only natural unrefined clay that he digs and processes himself. Kaiser creates ever-changing types of mostly functional ceramics, drawing inspiration from a wide range of personal experiences from his travels, ranging from Wabi-sabi to Voodoo.