My questions
- What is the earliest pot we have in our joint collection?
- What is the oldest pot we have in the SAHNS collection?
- Can you tell me where they were found?
- Can I take a photograph of them when I come?
- How many pots do we have in the joint collection?
- How many does SANHS own of those and how many of them are photographed.
Some information I have found
Early pottery was vey simple, low fired and made to hold things. I held one of the oldest pieces of pottery when I looked around the SANHS collections. I have to say it felt amazing.
The idea that I was holding something made by someone in prehistoric times made me have a moment. The understanding that the first pots were round bottomed, didn’t have decoration, were unglazed and were hand built but are still one of the go to things to help us understand our history was a huge thing for me. My dad has been making pottery for over 40 years and is now 80. His pots will be around for others to see in, possibly, 6000 years time.
I like the idea that it is pottery that is one of the things that does not change and is with us forever, as forever as rock is anyway.
Pottery goes through a chemical change that makes it different from paper, film metal etc. It is a material that will last through time and will tell part of our story long after we have gone.
So what I would like to do is tell the story of pottery as I find out about it and use the SANHS collections to inspire me to create pieces.
I currently feel like the luckiest person on the planet and that I have been given the opportunity of a life time. This challenge is harder than I ever thought it would be but the rewards are amazing and I am learning so much.