Story Bowl: Cat and swallows

A while ago I was asked to make a bowl for an anniversary. She loves cats, he has got a fascination for swallows. I suggested a large bowl in porcelain with swallows flying and a cat watching. We decided to keep the cat pure white  but give him a trail of turquoise foot prints as she likes turquoise too. And thus this colour was incorporated in the bowl in a subtle way. Now that pair received their gift, I'm happy to share the pictures of the (making) of the bowl with you (with permission from the commissioner and the new owner).

Sneak peak of the result.

I started by making of the swallows, 6 in total, so I'd have some spare.

Than the cat and the bowl. Bowl is sanded for silky smoothness after the high firing. 

The porcelain is nearly translucent in some places.

Translucent porcelain

The swallows got a black matt glaze and were fired a second time. 

Of the 6 swallows, only 4 survived the bisque / low firing. 

The stringing of the swallows on tread through the holes in the rim of the bowl. 

Initially I had thought of stringing only 3 swallows, somehow odd numbers usually look better, 

but in this case 4 worked just as well.

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The finished bowl:

Some details:

 The bowl in it's fair trade gift box.

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This is a quote from the couple whom received this bowl (in Dutch):

"Dit is een uitzonderlijk mooi en een prachtig stukje en toont zowel 

inspiratie, creativiteit en bovenal talent in dit vakmanschap."