size : 4 in.
Signed Kosiv ceramic tile with lovely painted/glazed lily design. 1990.
Made in Ukraine
To make Kosiv pottery, artists used local clay which was cleaned by hand from water and impurities. The basic form was created on a potter's wheel. It is then "whitened" by thinly applying white clay and dried. Then, decoration begins with designs etched by an awl. The grooves are covered by red clay, at times, creating characteristic flows in the lines. This is then fired once, removed, and color designs are added in green and yellow based on each artist's "secret dye recipe". It is then covered with a glaze which becomes clear and shiny upon the second firing at a higher temperature. In the Kosiv region of Ukraine, these works were made in the villages of Kosiv, Pistyn' and Kuty. Historically, they were utilitarian household items. Today, they are decorative collector's items.