White Bird Lantern
This lidded lantern was thrown on a wheel and carved on 3 sides with textured trees. A white bird sits in each tree vignette, with one white bird on a log on the lid. It is 11" H X 7" W, and glazed in 5 glazes with rust and brown tones. It casts beautiful and enchanting geometric mosaic shapes of light when a pillar candle is burned inside.
This is from my series Guardian Lanterns, which I generally make in autumn and winter, when our ancestors huddled around fire for warmth and safety. Each lantern uses light and shadow to create a sense of awe and magic. White Bird plays on the association of doves with the soul and happiness. Much sadness has come into my life lately, and yet as I gaze up at the tall bare trees outside, my spirit soars like a bird into the top branches and I can't help but smile.
It takes several hours to design and carve my lanterns. If my knife slips, or the glaze does not flow well, all the work is lost. Everything came together perfectly for this piece.
PHOTOS: you get the exact one pictured here.