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Theo Schoon, rare and important press moulded stoneware dish, decorated with an impressed Theo Schoon stamp design, signed with incised initials to the base and with affixed label from Steve Rumsey, 2.76 in. x 10.63 in. Note: This dish was a creative collaboration between Steve Rumsey, Len Castle and Theo Schoon. In 1985 Theo Schoon was living in Mangere in a retirement home, weak and frail as a result of emphysema. This dish was formed by Steve Rumsey from a Len Castle mould then given to Theo who, sitting crosslegged in bed, decorated the dish with his impressed stamp designs, after firing, the dish was rubbed with manganese dioxide and fired by Steve Rumsey in his electric kiln. Illustrated: New Zealand potter's magazine, volume 27, number 2 1985, p19-21. A similar dish is held in the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa. Provenance: Steve Rumsey collection

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  • Firing Crack - A firing crack is a crack in a porcelain or stoneware item that occurs whilst the item is in the kiln.They are usually caused by faulty design, where one part is thicker than the surrounding area, and being thicker it cools more slowly, setting up a stress with the surrounding area. Firing cracks are not often seen on modern mass produced porcelain, as the damaged items are discarded during prooduction. However they are seen in earlier items and artisan-produced objects.
  • Manganese Glaze - A manganese glaze contains manganese dioxide as a colorant. When fired at high temperatures, the manganese dioxide in the glaze reacts with the clay body to create a range of colors, including brown, black, purple, and deep red.

    Manganese glazes have been used to decorate ceramics for thousands of years, and they have been particularly popular in Chinese and Korean pottery. In China, manganese glazes were first used during the Song dynasty (960-1279 AD), and they were later used in the production of Jun ware during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD). In Korea, manganese glazes were used to decorate celadon pottery during the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392 AD).

    The glaze can be applied to pottery using a variety of techniques, including brushing, pouring, and spraying. The glaze can be applied alone or in combination with other glazes to create a range of effects, including speckled or mottled surfaces. However these glazes can be difficult to control, as they tend to be very fluid and can easily run or drip during firing. However, this fluidity can also be used to create interesting effects, such as the "hare's fur" pattern that is often seen in Chinese tea bowls.

    Manganese glazes are still in use by potters and ceramic artists to create unique and beautiful surfaces on their work.
  • Incised - A record of a name, date or inscription, or a decoration scratched into a surface, usually of a glass or ceramic item with a blunt instrument to make a coarse indentation. Compare with engraving where the surface is cut with a sharp instrument such as a metal needle or rotating tool to achieve a fine indentation.

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Theo Schoon, rare and important press moulded stoneware dish,…