Ceramic Art and Design

Ceramics are made by shaping and firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. They are hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials. Brick, porcelain, and earthenware are typical examples. The Greek word “ceramic” (keramikos), which means “of pottery” or “for pottery,” is where the word “ceramic” originates.

Ceramic art and design comprise projects made from clay and ceramic materials, which take the form of artistic pottery, tableware, tiles, figurines, and other sculpture. Ceramics and design have always been intertwined, and clay and ceramic materials have played a significant role in creating beautiful and functional objects. From artistic pottery to tableware, tiles, figurines, and other sculptures, the possibilities are endless.

Ornate ceramic vase with floral patterns displayed on a black pedestal

Doulton Silicon Ware: History, Decoration and Revival

Doulton Silicon Ware was a distinctive high-fired English stoneware made at Lambeth, recognised for its matt smear glaze and carved, incised, perforated and applied decoration.Read More →

Decorative Imari plates with horse and floral designs on wooden cabinet

Gosu Aka-e: Chinese Porcelain in Japanese Ceramics

Gosu aka-e is a bold, red-overglaze porcelain originating from southern China, later adapted by Japanese potters, particularly Okuda Eisen, influencing tea culture and ceramic tradition.Read More →

Pair of warm-white Carrot’s Den ceramic donut vases with open circular silhouettes

Carrot’s Den Donut Vase Set: Sculptural Ceramics for Modern Shelves

Warm-white ceramic and open circular silhouettes make the Carrot’s Den donut vase set feel as much like small sculpture as functional vessels.Read More →

Five Swimmers, an earthenware vessel designed by Raoul Dufy and Josep Llorens Artigas in 1926

Josep Llorens Artigas: Master of Modern Ceramic Glazes

Josep Llorens Artigas was a pivotal Catalan ceramic artist, blending technical skill with modern art, influencing ceramics as a significant art form through his collaborations and innovative glazes.Read More →

Art Nouveau teapot and cover by Harry Simeon, made in Lambeth around 1903 to 1905, showing the movement's interest in useful objects as expressive design.

Art Nouveau Ceramics: Organic Form, Glaze, and the Designed Object

Explore Art Nouveau ceramics through organic form, experimental glaze, Lambeth pottery, Zsolnay, and V&A collection objects that reveal the movement’s living decorative language.Read More →

Large handpainted Carlton Ware jardiniere with garden scenes, lustre glaze, and cobalt blue ground

Carlton Ware: English Art Deco Pottery

Carlton Ware, established in 1890 in Stoke-on-Trent, is renowned for its decorative ceramics, especially 1920s Art Deco vases featuring vibrant colours and sophisticated glaze techniques.Read More →

Royal Worcester porcelain covered vases dated 1862 with enamel decoration attributed to Thomas Bott Senior

Thomas Bott – Porcelain Painter and Designer at Royal Worcester

Thomas Bott was a notable porcelain painter at Royal Worcester, renowned for developing the Limoges enamel style, significantly influencing Victorian ceramic decoration despite his brief career.Read More →

Pottery tools on a wooden table with clay and ceramic shards

Clay in Ceramics: Composition, Plasticity and Firing Behaviour

Clay in ceramics explained: composition, plasticity, shrinkage, refractory qualities, kaolin and its role in pottery and porcelain design.Read More →

A 92 parts set of 'Blue Pheasant' from Royal Copenhagen, late 20th century by Christian Joachim

Danish Porcelain: History, Makers, and Design Significance

Danish porcelain, originating from the Royal Copenhagen in 1775, blends craftsmanship and industrial design, reflecting cultural identity and modern aesthetics through its enduring quality and tradition.Read More →

Cheesequake Pottery American Stoneware with Cobalt Decoration

Cheesequake Pottery: American Stoneware and the Amboy Clay Tradition

Cheesequake pottery, originating from New Jersey, exemplifies early American stoneware with a focus on utility, local production, and European influences in decorative styles.Read More →