Guy Sydenham 'Rokko Art' Whelk Seashell Vase

An exquisitely idiosyncratic terracotta vessel by Guy Sydenham, resembling an enchanting seashell encrusted with barnacles or a mystical cave within a craggy cliff. This captivating piece showcases Sydenham’s mastery of combing expert workpersonship with playfulness to produce an alluring nature-inspired design.

The pot is from Sydenham’s ‘Rokko Art’ series made at the Mermaid Studios on the Isle of Portland, England, in 2000.

Standing at approximately 6 inches tall, this freeformed vase, which Sydenham probably intended to be a pen holder, instantly captures curiosity with its meticulously carved and applied decoration.

The vessel is skillfully shaped like a tall spiralling Whelk shell, featuring intricate textures and patterns that mimic natural elements.

The rough bark-like surface of the holder brings to mind the kind of erosion or barnacles to be found on ancient shells and cliffs.

Also evocative of an eternity in and around the British coast are the numerous colours within the glaze. Hues of green, blue, and brown have been created using tin glaze over copper with glass.

The pot is impressed with three dies made by Sydenham. The first of these marks is the year, 2000. The second is the Court Leet mark for Wakeham. The third is a small ‘s’ within a ‘G’, Sydenham’s monogram.