Dark Matter

  • Darkstar

    Darkstar

    Darkstar
    Clay Body Coarse iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown
    Surface Treatment Black Southern Ice porcelain terra sigillata
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 19.50 x 20.50 cm
    Price $260 Sold
  • Dark Matter Vessel 4

    Dark Matter Vessel 4

    Dark Matter Vessel 4
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown
    Surface Treatment Burnished Black and Burgundy Slips
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 14.00 x 21.00 cm
    Price $180 Sold
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished Black Slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 13.00 x 22.00 cm
    Price $250 Sold
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip, iridescent crystalline glaze
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 14.50 x 20.00 cm
    Price $180 Sold
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1

    Dark Matter Vessel 1
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
    Height Width Depth 11.50 x 12.00 cm
  • Dark Matter Vessel 2 detail

    Dark Matter Vessel 2 detail

    Dark Matter Vessel 2 detail
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 2

    Dark Matter Vessel 2

    Dark Matter Vessel 2
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 2

    Dark Matter Vessel 2

    Dark Matter Vessel 2
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 2

    Dark Matter Vessel 2

    Dark Matter Vessel 2
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished burgundy slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished burgundy slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished burgundy slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished burgundy slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5

    Dark Matter Vessel 5
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished burgundy slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 4

    Dark Matter Vessel 4

    Dark Matter Vessel 4
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown
    Surface Treatment Burnished black and burgundy slips
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 4

    Dark Matter Vessel 4

    Dark Matter Vessel 4
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown
    Surface Treatment Burnished black and burgundy slips
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Double Walled Vessel

    Dark Matter Double Walled Vessel

    Dark Matter Double Walled Vessel
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown double walled
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Double Walled Vessel

    Dark Matter Double Walled Vessel

    Dark Matter Double Walled Vessel
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown double walled
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3

    Dark Matter Vessel 3
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 6

    Dark Matter Vessel 6

    Dark Matter Vessel 6
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 6

    Dark Matter Vessel 6

    Dark Matter Vessel 6
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7

    Dark Matter Vessel 7
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Oxidation
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8

    Dark Matter Vessel 8
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 9

    Dark Matter Vessel 9

    Dark Matter Vessel 9
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 9

    Dark Matter Vessel 9

    Dark Matter Vessel 9
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 9

    Dark Matter Vessel 9

    Dark Matter Vessel 9
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessels 9 and 10

    Dark Matter Vessels 9 and 10

    Dark Matter Vessels 9 and 10
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 10

    Dark Matter Vessel 10

    Dark Matter Vessel 10
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 10

    Dark Matter Vessel 10

    Dark Matter Vessel 10
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
  • Dark Matter Vessel 10

    Dark Matter Vessel 10

    Dark Matter Vessel 10
    Clay Body Iron-rich stoneware
    Technique Wheel thrown and altered
    Surface Treatment Burnished black slip
    Firing 1280°C Reduction
Dark Matter Vessel 3

Dark Matter Vessel 3 : : 13 x 22 cm

Dark Matter

Dark Matter is a series of individually thrown and altered vessels. The clay is my own blend of high fire stoneware clay - it is not the midfire clay named Dark Matter. The first series, Vessels 1-7, were made in 2014.

Clay Slip Mixed with Oxides

The vessels have had a number of layers of different clay slips mixed with oxides applied at both pre and post bisque. The black, burgundy and other coloured slips are made from different stoneware clays mixed with oxides. The pieces are then fired up to 1300°C in a reducing atmosphere in a gas kiln. Some of the pieces have also had an iridescent crystalline glaze applied over the slip and were refired to 1200°C (Vessel 8 for example). The pieces are intended as purely sculptural objects, but work well as ikebana vases.

Dark Matter Vessel 4

Dark Matter Vessel 4 : : 14 x 21 cm

Surface Treatment

The vessels are burnished at all stages in the ceramic process to produce this quality of surface, which appears worn and eroded and with a soft metallic sheen. The surface emulates the patina that develops over time through exposure to the elements of ancient bronzes and much larger vessels such as the hulls of ships. The close up of the surface of one of the vessels reveals string-like structures and a complex wrinkled surface, which is how dark matter might appear if it could be rendered visible.

Inspiration for In Sync

Fascination with the patina formed on the surfaces of different metals emulated here lead to my working with steel for the first time for my solo exhibition In Sync 2025.

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Established 2006
Design, programming and photography Peter Biddulph

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