I am not sure exactly when I started making these
dervish jars, at least back to CT, they are based on moving images of "whirling
dervish" that I saw in movies as a teen, probably about the French Foreign
Legion or Chinese Gordon from the movie KHARTOUM. Making the form and keeping
the top from collapsing or warping was a challenge at first but I have long
since worked out the problems of making them and have fashioned them in
stoneware, terra cotta and even the odd one in porcelain now and again. This
particular jar was thrown out of terra cotta, black slipped, carved in the
"grasses" pattern and then later fired with a clear glaze and the
knob of the lid is thrown/tooled to resemble a spindle on a spinning top to try
to tie the pieces together. I am not sure what the largest of these jar
measured, perhaps 18" across but this one was about 14" or so when fired
and the foot a bit broarder than most. Though they are less stable with a
smaller foot, the contrast and taper makes for a rather dramatic appearance and
makes the piece seem like it is in dramatic motion, whirl on.
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