Casgliadau Arlein

Slipware dish, circular, thrown, rough red clay scratched and marked on reverse, no footring, deep well, broad everted rim grooved around edge. Front coated in a white slip under a strongly yellow lead glaze. Yellow ground, well decorated with dark brown slip trails dotted with white slip, additional painting in dark red slip. Central design of a stylised symmetrical double headed eagle, scaley pineapple shaped body, two long narrow necks curving to left and right, two tiny wings, feet and claws sticking out horizontally from body. Oak leaf and rosette on either side. Trellis border of red slip trails over brown slip interrupted at bottom by a rectangular reserve outlined in dark brown slip dotted with white, and inscribed RALPH TOFT in dark brown slip. Irregular surface, thick crazed glaze, extensive chips around rim, and large area of wear on inner rim. Missing triangular piece below RALPH.

This rare dish by Ralph Toft is a type called ‘slipware’ after its distinctive, idiosyncratic decoration. It is achieved using different coloured slips - clay mixed with water to the consistency of cream. A dark brown slip has been trailed over the surface to create the outline of the design - in this instance a double-headed eagle. Other colours have been incorporated using orange and white slips and a yellow lead-glaze.