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During the golden age of Irish Learning and
culture our scholars moulded the intellectual life of other lands, and our craftsman
created items of rare beauty. One mile west of the village of Belleek where the Erne river
winds it’s timeless way towards the sea at Ballyshannon, lies the "Celtic Weave
China" pottery workshop. Like those craftsmen of old, meticulous attention to design
and detail are the hallmarks of Celtic Weave in creating items of rare beauty. For four generations
the Daly family have been crafting china baskets and flowered ware and the unmistakable
influence of this long heritage of master craftsmanship in indelibly stamped on each
unique piece. The creation of each
item of the "Celtic Weave Collection" takes days and weeks of endless care and
attention. The process begins with the precise hand kneading of the Parian bone mix, which
is left to mature for twenty weeks. This clay is extruded from a press in fine strands,
and then plaited by hand in three strands, to form the base of the basket. The craftsman
ten weaves the intricate open trellis work on the top of a plaster of paris mould which
gives the basket it’s shape. When dried, the feet, handles and edges are individually
applied. Flowers, buds, stems, leaves and shamrocks are shaped in the plain of the makers
hand and are built petal by petal until each flower or floral spray is complete. The
basket now completed in clay is placed in kiln for the bisque firing (1260° C for 40
hours). It is then glazed with a specially formulated transparent glaze and again fired to
1140° C. The process culminates with the hand painting of each piece by the deft and
delicate strokes of Patricia Daly’s brush. Each colour carefully chosen from a range
pastel shades to highlight the lifelike quality of the floral designs. The piece is then
enamelled fired to a temperature of 820° C. Any piece inscribed or gilded has to be fired
a forth time. The intricate subtleties of each of these creations are plain to be seen, invoking the refreshing beauty of an Irish springtime. |
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