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Stephen just gave me this beautiful book on the history of milk glass, and it has re-sparked my love and inspiration that my collection has given me.
Before I ever even touched porcelain, I was collecting milk glass. Yes you have all seen this glassware strewn through your grandmother's house or piled on tables at garage sales, and that's where I first discovered it as well.
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I remember one day in my early 20's rummaging through a dusty salvation army for vintage clothing, when I looked over at the large store front windows filled with milk glass with the sunlight passing through the pieces.
Their translucence amazed me and I was hooked.
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I snatched up several pieces for no more that a dollar each, and the collection was born. I brought them home and used them often, filling them with flowers and my personal favorite, placing votives inside and watching them at night with their flickering glow illuminating the room.
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Later on in my ceramic career I discovered porcelain, and though I heard of its translucent quality and saw images in books, I never experienced in person.
I was determined to make work that would really be translucent.
So I began working with the buttery clay body throwing it as thin as possible. Stretching my ability and the porcelain until, I thought it would be at that right thinness to let light pass through.
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I wanted "milk glass porcelain", and I believe from my time working with the material, I have achieved it.
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It has a warmer glow than milk glass, reminding me of pure bright sunshine. While milk glass looks to me of a overcast calm blue winter light.
They both cast beautiful light so well that it melts me every time I see it.
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So If you never experienced the special translucence of either I suggest you pick up a piece of milk glass at a thrift store, or even better one of my pots and hold it in the light.
I am sure you will melt, just like I do.