You might remember a really terrific image from House Beautiful this month. I could not stop studying Christopher Spitzmiller and Clare Potter’s new line of ceramics.
My mother had one of those white porcelain lamps with the roses appliqued on it when I was a little girl. I begged her to put it in my room. Wisely, she declined, but I made her move around me as she was pinning the latest pinafore rather than turn myself so that I could gaze on that lamp.
Spitzmiller and Potter’s pieces are like that, except they’ve been touched by the wand of fairy godparents.
It’s likely you’ve seen Spitzmiller’s work in countless magazines and most recently on New York Social Diary.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a couple of pairs of his lamps up close and the glaze is other-worldly. There is nothing like it and those dime-a-dozen knock-offs will be at the curb in no time while Chris’s lamps will grace your grandchildren’s tables.
And, yes, we’ve gone from Spitzmiller to Chris because I emailed him after seeing the House Beautiful story and said, “I must know what inspired this shift; I’m captivated.”
And he emailed me right back. Even by email you can tell he’s gracious and engaging. Chris and I do have a mutual friend, but that is not how we connected and the same is true of Chris and Clare Potter. While they share a friend it was seeing her work that drove Chris to her studio to discuss a collaboration.
“Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, I had to meet her on my own, in my own time, which was probably the right time to meet her. We both needed a little something new to shake us up.”
Thank heavens. Chris crafts the vessels then sends the blank base to Potter to add the decorative elements. She reads each piece to see what it wants and then works from there. Do click on the individual images and you will see the detail of the flowers and be surprised by bees and bugs. While they have both worked with colored glazes in other works for these they have chosen to keep the purity of white.
The pieces are coated in a clear glaze that is pink before it’s fired. And makes the pieces look as if they have been dipped in candlelight afterward.
These stunning pieces are available through Christopher Spitzmiller or Mallett Antiques.
These are STUNNING! Thank you for sharing…I had not seen them before.
Kim
“Dipped in candlelight…..” I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a more evocative description! Really beautiful. Now I want at least one of the lamps!
And I saw the coverage on New York Social Diary with the additional photos of his own living space and garden. How inspiring to take an interest and talent and turn it into an enterprise to give so much pleasure – to say nothing of having a profitable career while doing it!
Really just magnificent, Mrs. B. The centerpiece and surrounding especially. The chargers are not my fave…. BTW my Mom has a lamp as you describe also currently in the garage, I did not appreciate it until this this post…
You should see the ravishing be-blossomed lamps on display at Mallett. Ravishing! However, how does one eat off those plates? Or are they merely decorative and just for show?
Aesthete – I’ve done them both a disservice – they are, indeed, chargers.
I love the chargers, gorgeous! Such talent, thank you for sharing.
wow…makes me want to paint all of my capodomonte white…LOL
modern, stylish and beautiful!
OMG, the intricacy, the detail… Stunning, simply, breath-takingly stunning.
THIS JUST IN……..
and completely off the subject, of those stunning white ceramic pieces……. i am just not sure how to contact you more quickly…….the Washington Post reports your favorite designer Michael Smith will be doing the private quarters of the White House for the Obamas……or did you already know that?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011401103.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter
Heavenly! Ravishing, to steal AL’s comment, Brilliant. AND captivating. Thank you!
OMG! I have never seen anything so beautiful! I love his work. And want some of those dishes!
Fabulous!
xo xo
AMAZING!!! Makes me feel like getting married all over again!
Outstanding!
I adore this new line and think it’s so charming and unique. I’ve also been told that it’s not as fragile as it looks!
how beautiful and amazing the work is, and the finished products are.
i wish i could make something as fabulous to grace other people’s homes.
and i can relate very well to you as a little girl wanting to stare at the lamp.
i was the same way with beautiful things when i was tiny.
it is something deep and different, to have such an appreciation for beauty so early in life.
big hug
xxx
wow, that’s insane!
Absolutely gorgeous. I had never seen anything like this! Stunning.
I’ve always loved his lamps, but these new pieces are delectable! In this recession, these are fun and exciting and luxurious. LOVE THEM! How fun!
I love your blog too. : )
Terri in Canada
Christopher and Clare are both best of breed… insanely talented. It was inevitable they’d find their way to each other. Can’t wait for the Mallett show.