Knock back | Kilnship

At the moment, I’m drinking a cup of coffee out of a ceramic mug with no handle. Although this may sound like a challenge, it works. The handmade mug was designed with consideration of form, function and purpose using texture and glaze to insulate the heat for more comfortable holding and drinking. The mug, crafted in the 50′s, is classic and modern, and still maintains its original appeal.

The subject of designing an object with form, function and purpose in mind was captured in the film Objectified, which I had the opportunity to see last week. The film examines our relationship and interaction with everyday objects such as a chair, a vegetable peeler and a mobile phone, and how we should be mindful consumers when we select the items that we bring into our lives.

So ask yourself.…
Is the object designed with thought and purpose?
Is the object easy to use and free of unnecessary complexities?
Is sustainability considered in the selection of materials?

Yesterday, Lew Rakowsky shared his story of his Ukrainian grandmother’s pottery and how, to this day, her pieces are being used by those that were fortunate enough to acquire them. Similarly, my handleless mug can be as useful today as it was when it was first produced.

Here are a few of my personal favorite pottery designers, all of whom happen to manufacture their pieces in California, where I reside.

Heath Ceramics
Durable and handmade since 1948, Heath Ceramics is the quintessential provider of earthy dinnerware and tile for the modernist mindset. Pasadena Museum of California Art is showcasing the work of creator, Edith Heath, in an exhibit running now through September 20, 2009.

Stan Bitters
Although he’s a sculptor, Stan Bitter‘s simple birdhouse and pinch/thumb pots are both useful and beautiful.

Gainey
Vintage Gainey is so much better than 2009 Gainey. Made in LaVerne, the original architectural planters and pots still look fantastic inside the home or on the patio.

Bauer Pottery
Originally created in the late 19th century, Bauer Pottery was a staple in homes across the country. Although the company is manufacturing and selling reproductions of the original designs, there are a number of vintage pieces for sale for nearly nothing. Look here.

Next week … Whistling at work.