Quality ceramics should last you a lifetime, from that precious vase, or piece of decorative art. Here is an edit of our favourite ceramic brands by style director Louise Hilsz along with her latest upcycling DIY project. We hope you feel inspired.
Rachel Carley Ceramics
Rachel Carley is well-known for her exquisite, feminine pretty-coloured ceramics (and cushions). She is an artist who launched her brand back in 1994 in Auckland, after studying architecture, she quickly turned her hobby into her career. Collecting, revising and re-casting rejected tablewares, her intention, “Was to create a ceramic collection that brought together a motley aggregate of waifs and strays,
providing an afterlife for demoted objects.”
Rachel Carley Large Facet bowls, $103 each. Rachel Carley Diamond Vase, $75. Rachel Carley Stackable Cups, $52 each. Rachel Carley Petal Dishes, $40 each.
Wundaire
Wellington-based artist Felicity Donaldson Smith not only crafts some of the most amazing folk-art-inspired keepsakes ceramics, but she has also made a career out of what started as a hobby making pots for houseplants. With no formal training, her passion is now a well-respected craft, she shares, running workshops in Greytown in sunny Wairarapa.
Shop the collection and book workshops through Wundaire
Lil Ceramics
Out on magnificent West Coast at Muriwai Beach, you will find artist and mum Lily Weeds, and her stunning Lil Ceramics. After studying visual arts, her passion for getting my hands dirty and working with clay cemented her career, with a love of ceramics. Her collections range from rustic-looking ramen bowls to brightly coloured vessels, including her personal favourites, the reusable coffee cup, which is both beautiful and sustainable.
Lil Ceramics Wide Planter, $100. Lil Ceramics Blue Nikau Vase, $220. Lil Ceramics Reusable Travel Cup, $48. Lil Ceramics Ramen bowl, $45.
Simon Lewis-Wards
Based out West in amongst some of Auckland prime native bush, is Titirangi artist Simon Lewis-Wards. Famous for his sweet art, in lolly-like colours, he combines ceramic and glass, and each piece is ceramic collectors, must-have.
Discover more simonlewiswards.work
Quail Ceramics
UK brand, Quail Ceramics would have to be one of our faves. His love of animals chickens, garden birds, dogs, cats, goats, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits are both distinctive and stylish. He puts a traditional British spin on what are some of the most precious ceramics you could covet.
Quail Ceramics Leopard Salt + Pepper Shakers, $65. Quail Ceramics Giraffe vase, $145. Quail Ceramics Fox Butter Dish, $79. Quail Ceramics Pug Money Box, $75.
Bonnie Hislop
Brisbane based, Bonnie Hislop, is a creative genius. Her colourful ceramics have an organic vibe which makes them unique. Hand-built and painted in bold colours, this self-confessed, accidental cat lady, is inspired by the feline form and now runs a studio in Yeerongpilly where she works and teaches her intricate ceramic style.
Discover more on bonniehislop.com
Le Creuset
Every good cook owns a piece of Le Creuset. This classic French brand is synonymous with the fiery shade of orange from its cast-iron casserole pan that makes a mean Coq Av Vin.
With 95 years of craftsmanship lovingly poured into each pot and pan, today the colours range from shell pink to coastal blue. If you're a serious foodie, Le Creuset is the Louis Vuitton of the culinary world.
Discover more Le Creuset
DIY
One of our style gurus favourite cheese, housed in a cute brown ceramic dish, the Chris' Heritage Savoury Cheese Dip Goat Cheese & Black Truffle, is, without out doubt, the most exquisite cheese with a glass of Syrah. Making use of her collection, (let's say she has quite a few of these little dishes) and a few coats of bold Resene paints (and time at home with lockdown series two in Auckland) they have be up-cycled and used as herb dishes to sit on the kitchen window sill, or used to serve nuts and olives.
Paint colours used: Resene Eye Candy, Adrenalin and Turbo amiable from Resene ColorShops.
