Artisanal ceramics are having more than a moment. Interest in handcrafted clay objects has been surging for years, as a new generation of artisans has taken to the kilns and fired up a white-hot design trend.
For those seeking unusual decorative accessories that will add personality to a room, that’s good news.
“They really add a layer of warmth and richness,” said Christine Stucker, a founder of Stewart-Schäfer, an interior design studio with offices in New York and Connecticut. “I just love the uniqueness of each piece.”
Ms. Stucker and her husband and business partner, James Veal, have been collecting ceramics for years, and often hunt for them as sophisticated souvenirs of their travels. “It’s nice to have pieces that have a story and depth, and that mark a moment in time,” Mr. Veal said. “We have more than we can even display.”
And unlike acquiring fine art, buying decorative ceramics is less involved and can be a lot less costly, he added: “It doesn’t have to be expensive. They’re just little things that catch our eye.”
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Do ceramics have to be functional? Although many are technically bowls or vases, “they don’t have to contain anything,” Ms. Stucker said, and can stand alone as sculptural objects.
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How do you start a collection? “Just buy what speaks to you,” she advised, “and build upon it.”
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How should you display your ceramics? Ms. Stucker likes to mix them with books and plants, creating a larger composition on a bookshelf, coffee table, bar or mantel. “That’s my balancing act,” she said.
Revolver Yellow Bowl
Ribbed bowl by Christoph Radl for Bitossi Ceramiche
$600 at Artemest: artemest.com
Slab Tray
Small textured ceramic tray
$240 at Dumais Made: 212-620-7720, ext. 209, or dumaismade.com
Blue Klein Small Circle Top Vase
Vase in matte Yves Klein-inspired blue by Bari Ziperstein
$315 at March: 415-931-7433 or marchsf.com
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