Speak of the Devil and He Shall Appear

These plates are decorated with the phrase “Speak of the Devil and He Shall Appear,” which runs around the rim in sharp lettering. The saying is an old proverb used to describe the uncanny moment when a person arrives just as they are being discussed, reflecting the long association between everyday speech, superstition and the figure of the devil in folklore. The dark exterior surface is punctuated with raised studs and red glaze that appears to drip over the edge, echoing theatrical imagery of heat and danger. Inside the plate, faint devil faces are carved into the surface, almost hidden within the glaze. They only become visible as the light shifts across the bowl, creating a subtle apparition. This quiet reveal mirrors the meaning of the proverb itself, where the act of speaking conjures an unexpected presence.