Find Your Euro-spiration

Photo courtesy Procook.

Reformation 

Living in rural Mid Wales, designer Craig Anthony is surrounded by the shifting patterns and colors of the country’s multiple landscapes, from open moorlands and mountains, to the woods surrounding lakes and rivers. All of this landscape inspires his creativity, which in turn helped him to launch his decorative arts company Reformations, an online gallery of handmade glass clocks and modern glass wall art. 

His pieces that boast functional elements combined with highly decorative and abstract attributes. Additionally, many of his works also feature ambient lighting that creates a dramatic display when seen in darkness.

“My work develops organically, a reciprocal relationship between the materials and my imagination,” Anthony says. “Every piece I create feeds the design of the next. Created using paints with a high pigment content on specially prepared glass, and embracing a sense of natural chaos, my work is guaranteed to make a bold statement in any, contemporary setting.”

Photo courtesy Shekåbba The Danish Home.

Let delicate hues of pink, contrasting deep blues against calm gray, and relaxing greens glazes don your dinner table instead of standard dinnerware.

Photography by ‘The Cooking Lab’ – Grey Suit Clay

Small ceramic studios are making an impact with fun designs and a distinct unique feeling for each table. Studios such as Julie Spako’s,Grey Suit Clay, andSkandiHus in London are attracting buyers who crave handmade items you won’t find in bulk. The notion that each dish, bowl, mug or plate is one-of-a-kind makes every purchase feel personal.

Photos by Pauline Stevens – Julie Spako

Adding handmade ceramics to your table can subtly transform a room with the creativity that comes with singular pieces. Julie Spako, who works expertly with high fire porcelain and stoneware, says “ceramic is both an ancient material and a modern one … It’s an amazing material that will outlive its maker by thousands of years but comes into being by an artist or craftsperson.” Each piece holds its own history, which brings life to any table.

These ceramic creations serve as art, but they’re also functional. “I do consider the function of my pieces as I make them, and I look forward to seeing how they are used. Some of my serving pieces are kept on the kitchen counter as catch-alls from tea bags to coffee-making supplies or in the bathroom to hold wash clothes,” says Spako.

Photos by Charlie Mckay – SkandiHus

Francesca Hague, creator and owner of Grey Suit Clay also carefully considers function during the process, “I always create my pieces with the full intention of them being well used and well loved. I want them to be tactile and ergonomically pleasing in the hand whilst also showcasing a beautiful palette that works to compliment both the table it sits on as well as the food served upon it.”

Each piece is individually made and no plate, bowl, or dish is exactly the same. “Ceramic pieces are very unique in their process and finish. Being handled and molded directly from soft earth into durable, functional work — the potential for such a huge range of styles and finishes is endless,” according to Hague.

Photos by Charlie Mckay – SkandiHus

Photography by ‘The Cooking Lab’ – Grey Suit Clay

All photos courtesy NEFF.

Home appliance manufacturer NEFF, renowned for its passion for cooking and intuitive kitchen appliances, has partnered with UK-based ceramicist Reiko Kaneko to create a unique set of plates that enhance the flavor experience with a richer taste sensation.

The inspiration for this collection was taken from Professor Charles Spence’s groundbreaking research into the field of gastrophysics. Looking into various elements that contribute to a memorable eating experience, Spence has partnered with NEFF to uncover how the colour, shape, texture and even weight of crockery can intensify the flavour perception of food.

“Our brain plays tricks on us about what our taste buds are tasting,” says Spence. “There have been experiments showing that eating popcorn from a blue bowl tastes saltier than from a white bowl. Similarly, when it comes to shape, an asymmetric, angular plate can bring out the sourness and acidity of food much more than a round plate does.” Spence explains that working with NEFF to apply some of these principles to Reiko Kaneko’s plateware has been a really interesting challenge and opportunity to see the gastrophysics insights used as inspiration for plateware design.

The exclusive plate collection consists of three plates that have been specially designed to heighten the taste of each stage of a meal, for an ultimate dining experience. You can see the development and process behind each vessel below.

Reiko Kaneko, the ceramicist behind the creation of this set of plates, has been fascinated with the dimensions of taste since she discovered Spence’s work. “Playing with colour, shape and texture with the goal of ultimately influencing how diners will taste food has opened up a lot of creative avenues, which are reflected in my design,” she states.

Maria Beltrán, Head of Communication NEFF, says “Gastrophysics has opened our eyes towards a different world of ‘ingredients’ that come into play well after the food has been cooked: the elements that impact how food tastes when it’s being served. We hope that our plate collection inspires passionate foodies out there to be even more adventurous with their flavor experiments.”

After choosing the perfect dining table, preparing an unforgettable meal, and gathering your guests, don’t forget to select a set of dinnerware that will showcase your style.

The way we display our food has become a delicate form of art, from intricately drizzled sauces to the dishes on which they are served. Cristina Vezzini and Stan Chen are making elegance easy with their stunning dinnerware collection. Vezzini & Chen is a combination of hand-carved ceramics and hand-blown glass, which gives each piece a unique touch.

Vezzini, originally from Italy, and Chen, who is from Taiwan, met while attending The Royal College of Art and continued working together after graduation in their London studio. Although the two specialize in different materials and techniques, Chen being the skilled glassblower and Vezzini focusing on handcrafted ceramics, the team is a cohesive unit, which shines through in their work.

It is unlikely that you’ll find another set like Vezzini & Chen’s because each and every piece is handmade and carefully constructed by the duo. Their broad range of inspiration also adds an exclusive aspect to each set. Inspiration from nature, such as fire and water elements, comes through in their designs and pairs nicely with the natural materials that they mold.

Vezzini & Chen’s Hexa Plates and Hexa Bowls are inspired by the idea of looking through water, and the layered, multi-faceted image that appears on the other side. The bowls and plates are available in four signature textures.

Just a glimpse of Vezzin & Chen’s work include these other remarkable collections. The Hexa Wine Glasses are also available in four textures, but each individual glass is as unique as a snowflake.The Horizon Wine Glasses are delicate, hand engraved, and unforgettable. Buyers will certainly want a set of their own, but the hand-carved ceramic plates are part of a limited edition for the Spring Restaurant in London.

Light, geometry, texture, and repetition are also a large part of Vezzini’s designs, which contrasts Chen’s smooth, flawless glass creations nicely. The two designers use these inspirations to work together and bring their pieces to life. Vezzini & Chen’s dinnerware collections will stand out on any table!

Photos courtesy of  Vezzini & Chen