The plate reminds me of the desert at twilight. It has shades of pale blue, blue, and blue-grays intermixed with shades of cream, tan, and terracotta. Artist’s signature on the back reads Siegele & Haley 1991. In my research, I was unable to find other plates that resemble this so it seems to be rare. The plate is squarish, measuring approximately 7 1/2” W and H, and is about 8 1/2” diagonally from corner to corner. It is in excellent vintage condition. There is a small spot of light cream on the back of the plate near the center of the terracotta portion, as pictured. It appears to be a mark from displaying the plate.
Regarding the artists: Michael Haley and Suzy Siegele have been working together since they met in the 1970s. They produce a large line of dinnerware using colored porcelain. They mix numerous oxides into the clay body creating the thirty or so shades of porcelain used in their work. Various colored clays are stacked, sliced, extruded, or otherwise manipulated and constructed into loaves which are then sliced, like bread, into thin slabs from which their dinnerware is made.
The imagery they place in the clay is drawn from visits to the desert, the Caribbean, the art of M. C. Escher, aboriginal dream paintings and the natural world around their studio.
Siegele and Haley use an unusual firing technique to achieve the quality of the surfaces on their work. They begin the firing process using propane and at around 1600F they begin to stoke the kiln with cedar splints and finish the firing with both gas and wood.
Please look carefully at the pictures for condition and size, using the zoom feature if needed, as the pictures are part of the description. I will always do my best to point out obvious defects, if they exist. I am also happy to answer any questions and provide additional photos or measurements as necessary.
