The document discusses the importance of potters leaving marks on their work to identify the creator. It suggests that marks allow people to observe how a potter and their work develops over time. However, it notes that most potters do not typically sign their work. It presents brief stories of two potters and their work to show how styles can change. It concludes by recommending that potters develop their own marking system to help people enjoy and learn about their craft, while also celebrating potters who do make identifying their work easier.

1. Marks Matter in the Material World

2. Akio Takamori

3. Cornwall Bridge Pottery

4. MS ? MS?

5. ONE, TWO

6. THREE,FOUR

7. Matthew Metz

8. Lisa Orr

23. The matter of marks,
figuratively as well as literally.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

24. It would be great if every potter left
her mark, literally.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

25. Especially, when you want to enjoy
the work over time and observe how
it developed, and she grew over time.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

26. Then, you’d know so much more
than you would otherwise.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

27. Alas, most times, it seems, potters
don’t work this way.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

28. Check-her-out, anyway:
she’s wonderful.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

29. I’ve mulled-over this conundrum
and concluded that many potters
want us to imagine what might
happen next.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

30. Here is a vignette of one such potter,
(whose work is utterly different,
today.)
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

31. And here is a vignette of another
potter’s work, equally glorious and
changing gently over time.
Not for reproduction without written permission from Rebecca Sive.

32. And here is why the
lack of a mark may not matter at all!
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

33. And check-her-out again, albeit in
another medium.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

34. So, in this imperfect -- but
beautiful-- clay world, I
recommend developing your
own marking system.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

35. Here’s one.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

36. And here’s another.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

37. While you celebrate the potters who
do make it easier for us to enjoy and
know their work.
Not for reproduction without written
permission from Rebecca Sive.

38. Marks
Matter

41. “There is no need to sign,
people will attribute my best
pots to me and the bad ones
to someone else.”
- Shoji Hamada.

50. JEFFREY SPAHN GALLERY
415. 519. 2857
JeffreySpahn@Comcast.net
JeffreySpahn.com
YunomiBook.com

51. themarksproject.org