St Edward the Confessor

Date : 2000
Dimensions : 76 cm
Materials : Mixed Clays, Engobes, Underglaze colour (red), On-glaze (gold)

This hand built piece was inspired by the following story:
Saint Edward was once passing through a village where a church was being consecrated to Saint John the Evangelist. Stopping for the ceremony, he noticed a kindly old man begging for alms. The only thing Saint Edward had to give was his ring, and so this is what he gave.

Later, two pilgrims had lost their way in the Holy Land, but the old man appeared to them to comfort them and said,
“I am John the Evangelist; give this ring back to your king, who gave it to me, and tell him that in half a year he shall rejoice in heaven with me.” Then the pilgrims fell asleep.

When they awoke, they found themselves no longer in Palestine, but surrounded by flocks of sheep and shepherds who answered their questions in English, as they were on Barham Down in Kent. The two hurried to the king and gave him the ring; and six months later, Saint Edward died.

This piece travelled the country as part of the exhibition ‘Ceramic Contemporaries 4’ in 2003-4.