Thursday, March 29, 2007

Tableware for Rural Living

If any of you have an older home, or if you are trying to achieve an old country-kitchen look then I can't recommend Nicholas Mosse pottery highly enough. I used to work in a store that sold pottery and I could happily while away a few hours doing displays of his pottery. The colours are so vibrant but the designs are down-to-earth so that its not overpowering.

I learned on his website that Nicholas Mosse trained in England and Japan and made it his mission to produce beautiful, functional pottery in the style of Irish Spongeware. Irish spongeware was the traditional pottery of Ireland used in the 18th Century. It was mainly made in simple honest shapes with a decoration applied with a cut sponge.

The modest company was set up in an old flour mill in 1976, it has since gone from strength to strength but has not lost the personal touch and attention to detail, with all of the pottery still made and decorated by hand.

There are a number of patterns to choose from, here are just a few:

Wildflower

Clematis

Landscape

Strawberry

For me, Nicholas Mosse pottery evokes thoughts of rural living and natural inspirations. To find out more have a look at the website at www.nicholasmosse.com