Black Bark Vase 1This large vase makes a dramatic accent piece that adds a modern natural touch to home decor. For this black and white ceramic vase, I threw the form on the wheel and hand painted the surface with several coats of slip (liquid clay) that I had tinted a velvety black. I then carved bark texture using a technique known as sgraffito. The handcrafted textured black vase has a shiny clear glaze for durability and gloss.