Stamps used to impress images into the back of the tile.
Back of the tile:
Mighell
Silver Hand Artist
Aug 14 2013
“Stamps: swan/fish, fish, star, fish, and fox”
Cook Inlet Glacier Clay
Alaska
Vitrified
The “Silver Hand Artist” means I’m registered with the state of Alaska as a aboriginal artist. Vitrified means the tile won’t absorb water and the tile is good for wet or outdoor use if a person wanted to use the tile in a shower stall or outside in a garden. My last name is pronounced “mile” as the “igh” rule makes the “gh” part silent; it’s old English and back then the language was more gutteral and it sounded more like Michael and is actually a variation of that name when applied to the arch-angel. I make my own tile clay body and the major component comes from the mud flats next to Anchorage. The material is the surrounding mountains that were ground up by the glaciers.
Made new halibut and gingko leaf plates and will post the resulting tiles next week.
I love the idea that you’re using local material for these tiles. Also found your brief discussion about your name fascinating. Makes sense that it’s a variation of Michael. Why do you use five stamps on the back of a tile? Does the number and/or the order of the stamps have any significance?
Hi Peter,
Thanks for reading my posts and commenting back. I just like to add something interesting to the back of the tiles, and there is no rhyme or reason to the order of the stamps. Although it does look like some mysterious hieroglyphic type message, doesn’t it. Someone in the distant future is going to think so and they will spend a day or two researching early 21st Century ceramics looking for the interpretation or code key. Smaller four-inch tiles have three stamps and larger eight-inch tiles have seven.
-Ed
Love your work, and the courage you took to go from a (secure) day job to making a living doing what you have a passion for. I put some “mole skin” on the bottom of the tile I bought and am using it for a cup coaster. Do you make coasters?
Hey Lee. Thanks. Check out the latest post. Dorothy went on a pilgrimage with me, our Dad and youngest sister.