A Maker’s Hand: Sophie Wilson, 1690 Store

As part of our The Petersham Nurseries Maker’s Hand series, artist and ceramicist – Sophie Wilson created this beautiful piece for us.

From her kitchen table, she produces characterful collections of wonderfully purposeful ceramics, each with their own unique story. Using techniques inspired by Blackwork embroidery first used in England in the 15th and 16th century, this is interpreted into ceramic form where terracotta, white slip and sgraffito imitate the sewn technique.

The Blackwork style

Blackwork was the most common domestic embroidery technique in England in the 15th and 16th century. Traditionally worked in iron-dyed silk thread, black counted stitches created high-contrast geometric patterns on heavy, plain-weave white or off-white linen or cotton. Later styles incorporated larger designs using flowers, fruit and beasties, connected by curvilinear stems, the ornaments shaded with a spray of seed stitches to produce greater tonal value. The decorative style lends well to the monochrome of 1690 Unfinished Blackwork where terracotta, white slip and sgraffito imitate the sewn technique. The ceramic form takes from early 17th century English Delftware tankards, inverted.