HISTORY:
We are cleaning out our "overgrown" collection of UK (mainly) chinaware because we have quality chinaware coming out of our ears! Some pieces/collections have been kept but others must find new homes to accommodate our latest passion - fine, artistic chinaware (hand painted of course)
If Irish chinaware and porcelain is close to your heart, you might also like to take a look HERE
This porcelain giftware is NOT just an Irish harp!
This Irish porcelain piece is not only hand-crafted artistic porcelain, it actually has a beautiful meaning ...
Our family loves music, all music, and the joy it brings and this Irish harp was a perfect fit for us folks of Irish & Scottish descent, because in Irish culture the Irish harp is considered a national emblem and the harp represents Joy and is a symbol of music (obviously) and celebration.
But it doesn't end there .... there are two VERY intricate Celtic knot designs on each side of the harp .... Celtic knots are distinctive in that they never end.
Sit down and follow one of the lines in the knot, HOURS of amusement (for those so inclined) because the line will never end!
It's a bit like that old joke which goes like ... "How do you send a Scotsman crazy?" Put him in a round room and tell him to find a coin in the corner ... but I digress
It is said that the Celtic knot, no matter which design is used, represents Eternity - never ending ... there are many Celtic knot design elements which can represent various aspects of eternity e.g Love, Life, Family, Relationships or Religion to name just a few.
Just one source of information (and there are many) online with regard to Celtic symbols and knot design is HERE
So, let me describe this very special Irish harp and further down in this description I will talk a bit more about those knots, the company CRE Irish Porcelain and the director, Joe McCaul.
CRE IRISH PORCELAIN - Irish Harp
Circa1980's
Irish Harp
Symbolic Giftware
White/Cream porcelain
This is NOT Belleek but a "normal" porcelain
Handmade*
Multi-coloured Celtic knot design in four areas
Underglaze CRE Irish Porcelain print (Light Purple) to one side
Metallic CRE Irish Porcelain stick-on Gold/Red label on the underside
DIMENSIONS:
178mm (7 Inches) height x 120mm (4 3/4 Inches) wide
Stable hexagonal base 70mm (2 3/4 Inches) x 60mm (2 1/4 Inches)
WEIGHT: 235g
Metallic Gold script writing
J Mc Caul
Below this signature is the CRE Irish Porcelain company logo and text (in a Light Purple)
Handmade in Galway Ireland (following an upwards curve)
Now at this point we will add a few personal thoughts about this signature .... many people online are a bit like sheep! One person says something and they all follow blindly! I even saw some sellers naming the owner of the autograph as Joel! Often you can see advertisements for CRE Irish Porcelain products, declearing the piece has been hand painted by Joe, we doubt this ...
J McCaul (first name Joe) was the director of CRE Irish Porcelain but that doesn't mean he was the creative artist, in fact we really doubt he undertook the "hands on" creation of this art.
CRE Irish Porcelain were prolific producers of "giftware" and as the Director of the company, while we are absolutely sure that Joe DESIGNED the piece, particularly the Celtic knots, we really doubt he actually painted them.
Make no mistake, the artwork is absolutely hand created (we checked closely and you can see the "human touches" to the design i.e uneven colouring and some colours "drifting offline" a little. Actually although two basic designs are repeated on each side of the harp, they are not identical - the most obvious difference is the heavier Red & Green painting design is upside down in relation to the other side while the knot design remains very much the same.
It is our belief that highly skilled production artists/workers undertook the decorative work, not Joe personally.
We do not collect pieces just because they "look nice" but also like to know as much as possible about the "background" and although it was a little difficult to "dig up" the information, Facebook provided the best (and most reliable) information.
Quoting from the F.B page of Brazco Coffee Academy
Post was made in 2016!
We're exciting and proud to be hosting an exhibition by the talented and acclaimed 'Joe McCaul' in our art space at 'Brazco Coffee Academy'. Joe has enjoyed an impressive career in the Art industry.
From head designer at 'Royal Tara China' to founder and director of CRE Irish Porcelain and Head of ceramics at GMIT.
Joe is still very active in the Irish Art community and is exhibiting nationwide. Check out his bronze James Joyce sculpture on UCD campus. Joe is also very active in the coffee drinking community and is one of our best customers:) We've been a fan of Joe's work for years and are proud to be hosting his work. The exhibition will run for September and October. Not to be missed.
If you look at the FB page of Brazco Coffee Academy, it seems that this is THE place to go to in Galway for a great coffee and to view some wonderful art!
GMIT is the Galway-Mayo Institute Of Technology, located in Galway
Royal Tara China remains a "going concern" and they have a lot of items with Celtic designs, no doubt Joe had a hand in this too - look HERE
Another thing I would like to mention is the Celtic knot design used. I believe this was entirely of Joe's creation as I cannot link it with any of the "ancient" Celtic knot designs. We couldn't for the life of us figure out exactly what it mean't! But the basic knot design has been retained i.e it is never ending, with no start or finish. Very intricate design in various shades of Yellow and with the added, heavily applied Red & Green on top of the knot. Perhaps only Joe knows the "meaning" of this knot design, if there ever was intended to be a meaning!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED but practically "as new"
NO cracks
NO stains, marks or other signs of use
NO chips or fleabites
NO crazing
NO wear showing to the artwork at all
NO discolouration (topside and underneath)
So there you have it ... not "just" a Harp, this is something much more than that
