Bowlfuls of meaning
The hanging bowl discovered alongside the Winfarthing Lady was found to have a mixture of local plants inside it, including foxglove, bracken, horsetail and pear or apple stems. All these plants have healing properties and, as they all flower in early summer, give us an idea of when she was buried.
And so it was that we arrived at De Lucy House weighed down in almost equal measure by clay and greenery, including aromatic plants like sage, rosemary and bay leaves.
First, we chatted about Anglo-Saxon beliefs in gods, magic and medicinal plants and shared some of our favourite good luck sayings and customs, including lucky numbers and how cheering on the opposition seems to help the home team.
Then we made our own series of bowls, using the slump bowl technique of pressing wet clay into a lined vessel. Participants pummelled and rolled and pressed the clay into place, and then inlaid it with leaves and seed heads.
Some used the off-cuts to fashion individual ‘elf-pots’ and flower arrangements and everyone agreed that, whilst it was hard work, they all thoroughly enjoyed it; from the feel of the damp clay to the smell of the herbs and green leaves, it had been a very sensory experience.
Over at Oak Lodge, we feared for the stability of the table, as the team thumped and hammered their clay into a softened lump, ready to roll into shape.
It was such a joyful afternoon – and the work produced is absolutely beautiful. Caitlin will be back next week, when we will remove the foliage and paint and embellish the pots, ready for exhibition in September.
Coins and Crosses: Seeking the Anglo-Saxons in Winfarthing and Waveney is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to connect local communities with our Anglo-Saxon history.
Chatting about the Winfarthing bowl and the plants found inside it
Softening the clay lump
Rolling out the clay to make a slump bowl
It's hard work, isn't it, rolling out the clay?
Caitlin explaining how to work out how big the clay needs to be to fill the bowl
Lining the bowl with clay
It was a new experience for me
Adding an ear of corn
Some of the things they enjoyed about the morning
Shaping a small vase
Wild flower arrangement on clay
Sage, hawthorn and fern - just a few of the leaves chosen to decorate this bowl at De Lucy House
It was very natural and earthy, I really enjoyed it
Making pots was a new experience
Admiring their handiwork
Beliefs, chants and lucky numbers
Softening up the clay lump
Squishing the clay
Bowl-er hats?
Rolling out the clay
Ready to line the bowl
Smoothing the clay into the bowl
Many hands make light work
Smoothing it down
Using a hand spray to wet the clay and smooth out some of the finger prints
Using the rubber kidney to smooth the wet clay
Choosing the greenery to put in the clay
Using an ear of corn to mark make around the rim of the bowl
Marking the rim of the bowl
Close up of the decoration
One of the clay bowls made at Oak Lodge, inlaid with greenery including oak leaves
Ox eyed daisy, oak leaves, sage and rosemary combined to line the interior of a clay bowl
Bananas, strawberries and watermelon - the refreshment list for next week
What they enjoyed about the afternoon
‘I liked that we were all different types of people here, yet we all got on together.’
‘I've loved that this morning was all so spontaneous and we improvised making different sorts of things.’
‘How would I describe what we've done today? It's been earthy and natural - I've really enjoyed it.’
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