'Obstruct': 1 of a set of 5 ceramic pots, wheel thrown with hand-built adjustments.
Artist statement: "Hostile architecture is a phenomenon with rase rise significantly throughout urban design this century. A widely recognised example of this type of design is the 'uncomfortable bench'. Interventions of this kind are now familiar, and can even be a cause of comfort to privileged audiences, but it is important to consider their sociological effects. We have replaced human interaction, nuance and empathy with hard, physical and non-negotiable solutions. Identifying five core aspects of hostile urban design - limit, control, obstruct, impede and deter - I have developed a series of ceramic cups which each embody one of these qualities."
This item suffered significant damage in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. It was salvaged and has undergone conservation and consolidation work. Round white storage jar with lid. Tan, green, and black transfer desgin on jar with 'Currants' in black near the centre. Thin gold band on the bottom. Lid is white with a gold band.
Round white storage jar with lid. Gold/tan, blue, and black transfer design. Labelled 'Lentils' in black at centre. Metallic gold band across lid and bottom of jar.
Round kitchen store jar with a white bottom complete with yellow, black, and grey transfer designs. Top half is gold. Labelled 'FLOUR' in black towards the center. Lid is white with some gold. Has 2 relief bands of gold circles.
Large beige glazed vase. About half of the body, the bottom, and a band around the neck are tan. Neck is long and has an uneven, almost oval shape. 'NMC 606' handwritten on bottom. 'Stewart' - artist's signature - is incsied on the bottom.
Large and wide white ornamental vase with light and dark blue hand-painted floral patterns. Hand-painted bands of designs along the mouth and the bottom. Has a lid with several hand-painted bands of light and dark blue patterns. '18-24' handwritten in black on bottom of vase and lid. Glaze over the vase and lid. Was given to one of the school's directors as a gift.
Large bowl with blue and black hand-painted, floral pattern on inside and brown underglaze. Green and brown glaze cover the outside of the bowl. Signed 'Sinclair' on the bottom along with the marking 'ST' (creator's initials) and another marking of a circle with an X over it (maker's mark). Label on bottom - 'NMC 1382.'
This large plate forms part of a painted china tea service. Orange lustre-glaze, and flower paintings on a white china blank. Initialled by the artist on the base.
Gray ceramic wavy bowl with incised circular designs. Possible engraved initials "AT" (artist's variant name is Anne J Taylor) and date "24/8/80" engraved on bottom.
This item was badly damaged in the fire in The Mackintosh Building at The Glasgow School of Art on 23rd May 2014. This was assessed by a conservator but no conservation work was deemed possible. Brown glazed ceramic lugged pot with two small knobs on either side.
Open necked blue glazed ceramic vase with hand-painted white decorative patterns. Bottom of vase has engraved marking "ST" (creator's initials) and another engraved marking of a circle with an X through it (maker's mark).
Ginger jar without a lid. Handpainted green leaves around the mouth and a yellow design around the body. Two small handles on either side. Signed "AMcB" on the bottom. Ginger jars were initially used to store and transport spices and have been used as decorative items. Similar in shape to a Mary Fairgrieve two-handled pot - possibly a large sugar basin - decorated with a typical Glasgow School design that is featured in the Scottish Pottery 25th Historical Review 2013.
Large unglazed ceramic planter with opague glazed decorative relief on the front and a black/brown glazed top. 7 small holes in the bottom. Short, unglazed ceramic stand. The body is narrower and darker in colour. These ceramics were in the library in the Mackintosh Building in the late 1970s before it was in the Bourdon Building.
Pot: Yellow lustre glaze on white blank. Lustre glaze covers body of pot. Handpainted green and brown band of flowers around the rim of the pot with a brown handle. 'W Gep.L.Ashworth Bros. Ltd Hanley England 1917' stamped on the bottom. Lid: Yellow lustre glaze on white blank with brown knob on top. Handpainted green and brown band of flowers around the edge the lid with a small opening for a spoon.
Slightly curved fragment with blue glaze and dark green hand-painted design and bands on recto. Blue glaze with dark green hand-painted Arabic writing and a green band on verso.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and blue, turquoise, red, and dark brown hand-painted patterns on recto. '15 SAVEH' and '15' handwritten on verso. Saveh is a city in Iran.
Part of group of 31 glazed and gilded pottery fragments from Persia/Egypt/Syria. Includes imagery of ornamental designs, figures, animals, and Arabic/Cufic lettering.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and dark blue, red, turquoise, and gold hand-painted pattern on recto. Cream glaze with hand-painted red band and black Arabic inscription on verso.
Fragment with cream glaze and light yellow/gold hand-painted patterns and figures riding horses on recto. Cream glaze with brown hand-painted designs on verso.
Rim fragment from dish or plate. Hand-painted black Arabic writing on recto. 'GOMBAZ KAOUE near Persepolis' handwritten on verso. Persepolis is a city in Iran.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and yellow/gold hand-painted design on recto. Gold hand-painted patterns with figure on verso. Possibly small handwritten letters on an edge.
Rim fragment from dish or plate. Cream glaze with yellow/gold hand-painted pattern with crown on recto. Small area of cream glaze and red/brown section of hand-painted band on verso.
Fragment from what might be a tile. Hand-painted flower and petal shapes in blue, black, yellow, and turquoise paint. '85' and 'SHAH ISF' handwritten on verso. Shah (Persian) is a title given to the emperors/kings and lords of Iran.
Rim fragment with cream, blue, and black paint with hand-painted band on recto. Hand-painted blue and black bands on verso with metallic/mineral shine.
Fragment of dish or plate. Cream glaze with dark blue, turquoise, black, red, hand-painted figures and animal on recto with some gold leaf. Cream glaze with turquoise, blue, and red hand-painted figures on verso with some gold leaf. One large crack down the centre.
Rim fragment with cream glaze and blue and black hand-painted band on recto. Cream glaze with hand-painted black band with what might be Arabic writing on verso.
One of thirty-one different pottery fragments from Persia/Egypt/Syria. Likely brought to the Glasgow School of Art to be used as teaching aids.
Large decorative ceramic plate with brown transfer of Robert Burns in a landscape. Text above him reads, 'I Think I'm Feeling Better'. Brown decorative transfer pattern around the edges of the plate. 'Bill Brown, Glasgow 1996, 7/12' on verso.
