In focus Highland Stoneware
Pottery; evolved The Highland Stoneware Geological Project – a case study of such interest that acclaimed designer David Queensberry is involved, and the V&A Museum has included it in its ceramics collection – is an inspired piece of work. Tableware International shines a light on the extraordinary brainchild of potter David Grant… If the acclaimed designer David Queensberry tells you something is important, then it probably is. The Highland Stoneware Geological Project is one such thing. David Grant of Highland Stoneware – with potteries based in Lochinver and Ullapool – is behind a geological project that develops glazes using rocks, which – until recently – were believed to be the oldest in the world (older ones have since been discovered in Serbia).
The rocks come from an area called Assynt, a famous geological site in the northwest Highlands which is located in the NW Highland Geopark, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Highland Stoneware team including potter Fergus Stewart, along with the help of oriental glaze expert Nigel Wood, have all played a part in developing these extraordinary glazes which have truly harnessed the power of nature. David Queensberry has an interest
in the project because he tutored Highland Stoneware’s David Grant at the Royal College of Art in the early 1970s and is a director in the company. “David Grant makes high fired reduction stoneware, which has in-glaze hand decoration,” David Queensberry explained to Tableware International. “In 2014 he became interested in using the local rocks in glazes… David started by discussing the project with Pete Harrison the leading geologist at the GeoPark, who
Did you know? The pottery has created bespoke
orders for a number of restaurants. The Dipping Lugger in Ullapool uses only Highland Stoneware pottery with many glazes selected for specific food dishes featuring local ingredients. 20 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL
suggested rocks whose composition indicated they might work well as/ in glazes. He has also had help and advice from the department of Geology at Edinburgh University.” David continues: “Since the start of the project David, alongside his colleague Fergus Stewart, have tested hundreds of rocks from different parts of the GeoPark, and the results are stunning. One of the most interesting rocks used in the project is Lewissian Gneiss which is one of the oldest rocks in the world (3000 million years old), it produces a beautiful rich Tenmoku style glaze, using 100 per cent of the rock with no additions.” Also central to the project’s development has been Joshua Wilson who along with another employee, Franci Hutchison, have made a great contribution. One of the most challenge aspects has been grinding the rocks to the required particle size so the Highland Stoneware team has introduced rock crushing and milling equipment to the pottery. The pottery says it has taken a “practical approach to developing glazes, if it is too refractory – flux it, if it settles too quickly and doesn’t apply – put clay in it… We have developed some unique qualities this way, but perhaps some of the most remarkable have been working with the pure materials with no additions and trying various ways of making them work”. The resulting glazes and pieces (some of which are designed by David Queensberry) are a thing of beauty, not just because of their obvious aesthetic value but even more so because of their utterly unique composition. Visit www. highlandstoneware.com to learn more.