Acclaimed slipware potter, Hannah McAndrew and internationally renowned pictorial sign painter and
letterer, Andrew Grundon, have collaborated on a large platter to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III.
For centuries, potters have traditionally made commemorative pieces to mark events such as these, often using this technique known as sgraffito.
Andrew Grundon has made a reputation and career in traditional pictorial sign painting, carving, and illustrating.
This platter was made by Hannah McAndrew, who is a celebrated potter and decorated by Andrew Grundon.
Sgraffito is the process of scratching through a surface layer of a light-coloured slip to expose the darker clay beneath, forming a sort of incised line drawing. If any mistakes are made it’s virtually impossible to fix, so careful planning and intense concentration are necessary on a design as complex as this, to get it right first time.
Andrew has drawn and painted the Royal coat of Arms of the UK many times over the years, but for this project he began afresh, to inject a new perspective into the familiar heraldic design.
The preliminary sketches were weeks in the researching and drawing, with every aspect being reimagined in a circular format for this particular purpose.
The final design when scaled to the right size was traced down onto the slip surface when it was still a little soft.
Andrew then scratched the design into the soft slip, using sharp metal tools. The process took hours and hours of focussed work.
When it emerged from the kiln firings the armorial had been transformed, with every detail gleaming and sharp.
Online catalogue about the planning, making and finished piece: https://issuu.com/dougfitch/docs/the_coronation_platter