Arty tea with milk and cake (From Watford Observer)

Arty tea with milk and cake

1:49pm Friday 14th September 2012 in Leisure By Rosy Moorhead

On the fourth Saturday of every month, something rather special happens at Watford Museum. The foyer is transformed into a cosy tearoom that shows the work of local artisans.
All the cakes and biscuits are freshly home-made and a variety of teas and coffees are served. For the September tearoom, tea mistress Christine Clifford will be serving up lavender cake, lemon drizzle cake, caraway muffins and Queen Mother’s favourite cake.

Providing the artistic backdrop this month will be the works of Martin Knight – ceramic milk bottles. Made using the original products as moulds and individually glazed, they make quirky and original and vases, ornaments and milk jugs, and will look great individually or as part of a set.
There will be 50 on display, each one unique, until Saturday, October 6. Christine will even be serving the tearoom milk from one.

Martin makes each bottle individually from a ceramic casting slip within a specially-built plaster mould. He then hand glazes them with a variety of carefully formulated glazes, fired to stoneware temperatures, making them durable and water-tight.
The glazes include combinations of traditional recipes such as green granite, blue green crystal, copper red, cobalt blue and silky white, plus new formulations with different oxides. All are completely food safe.

If you are interested in exhibiting your own artwork in future, contact Christine on 01923 233429 or email tearoom@watfordmuseum.org.uk

The September tearoom is at Watford Museum, Lower High Street, Watford on Saturday, September 22 from 10.30am to 4pm. Details: 01923 232297, www.watfordmuseum.org.uk