Category: Gifts
Beautiful studio art pottery tile wall plaque from Saint Andrew's Abbey Monastery in Valyermo, California. Handmade by monks out of stoneware clay, this design is called Jonah and the Whale featuring Jonah and his guitar in the mouth of the whale. Metal loop on top for hanging.
Approximate measurements: 9.5" x 7"
The Jonah tile hangs in my entryway now, and I love how the matte stoneware texture catches the afternoon light. You can really tell it’s hand-thrown, not mass-produced, and the whale design feels both ancient and fresh. It’s a conversation starter every time someone walks in.
The glaze has a depth that shifts in different light, and the whale design feels both ancient and playful. It’s heavier than I expected for a wall piece, which actually gives it a solid, handmade quality. I keep catching myself stopping to look at it.
I hung this in my hallway and the stoneware texture catches the light beautifully, it feels much heavier and more substantial than I expected from a wall plaque. The hand-carved whale detail is even more striking in person, a real conversation starter that fits the monastery craftsmanship perfectly.
