I love ceramics! And I know I’m not alone. There’s a rich history of using ceramics in interior design that goes almost as far back as human civilization itself. Collectively, we have this primal connection to the material. After all, we make these beautiful vessels and crafts by scooping clay out of the ground, sculpting it, and cementing its form in fire. Is any other art form as connected to our primal instincts? Watching a ceramicist throw a pot on the potter’s wheel and take it from a lump of clay to a standing vase is mesmerizing and feels like literal magic. How could you not fall in love? 

Let’s get into this Interior Design Glossary entry. I’m sharing my love for ceramics…defining the material, exploring its history, highlighting influential ceramic artists, and offering ways to use ceramics in interior design.  

What is Ceramic?

So, what is ceramic exactly? By definition, ceramic is a hard, brittle, heat-resistant product created by shaping and firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, like clay, at a high temperature. Ceramics include clay, earthenware, porcelain, and brick.

A Brief History of Ceramics

Ceramics is one of the oldest human technologies, going back thousands of years. The earliest ceramic artifact found dates as early as 28,000 BCE, during the late Paleolithic period. It is a statuette of a woman dubbed the Venus of Dolni Vestonice. More practical ceramic items, like dishes, cups, and vases, didn’t come around until much later. The earliest examples of ceramic pottery were discovered in China and date back to 18,000-17,000 BCE. The ceramic arts continued to evolve from there. Mesopotamians developed glazes around 3,000 BCE. The ancient Greeks began painting ceramics as an art form in 700 BCE. And in the 1400s, high-temperature kilns were developed in Europe for more efficient firing and production. In the mid-1800s, industries began to utilize ceramics in new technologies because of their conductive properties. Of course, today, we use ceramics throughout our homes, from the practical applications of dishware and flooring to more artistic appreciation of hand-thrown vases and wall decor.  

How to “Throw” Ceramic Pots and Create Other Ceramic Arts

The idea that a lump of wet clay can be turned into a shimmering glazed vase (that could shatter into a thousand pieces) is almost mystical. So, how do ceramicists create their pots and crafts from these scoops of pliable earth? 

 

Throwing is one of the most popular methods. The artist works the clay with water and then throws it into the center of a potter’s wheel. The clay is spun and pulled into the desired shape. It looks easy to watch an expert. But if you ever try, you learn it is far from it. Making ceramic pieces is a complicated process. It takes many steps, and lots can go wrong.

Other techniques for molding ceramics include hand-building, jiggering, and casting, which all involve shaping the clay by hand or with the help of a mold. 

Seeking Inspiration From Notable Ceramic Artists

There are two ceramic artists I have recently found inspiration in when working on some of my most recent projects at my Austin interior design studio. 

Ian Godfrey

Ian Godfrey began making pottery in the 1960s at his Islington, North London studio. His pieces began as vessels and bowls, but he built much more into these artistic forms. Most of his work includes small, detailed scenes perched on top, including houses, animals, and nature — all with a strong sense of storytelling. He carved into his pottery when it was almost dry, using a small penknife to get the level of detail he wanted. His work leans much more toward the decorative side, abandoning practicality for artistry. 

Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler is well known for his home decor and interior design. He fell in love with pottery at the age of 12 and entered the design world in 1993, launching his first ceramic collection at Barneys, New York. Five years later, he opened his namesake studio in SoHo and has continued to make a name for himself. His work has a strong sense of humor, from his Georgia vases covered in female anatomy to his Druggist canisters labeled for weed, shroom, and LSD storage. While decorative and playful, his ceramics do offer home practicalities for storage and display. 

Ways to Use Ceramic in Interior Design 

I love that ceramics can serve practical needs and be a thing of artistic beauty in themselves. We can just as easily eat from a ceramic plate as give distinction as a wall hanging. I find that there are three main ways to use ceramics in interior design. 

Practical Pieces 

William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” In short, any practical item you use daily should also be beautifully inspiring. After all, why wouldn’t you want to start the day with a lovely hand-thrown ceramic mug for your coffee? 

Decorative Arts

Ceramics can also be used strictly as art and decor — from wallhangings to decorative objects. For a client in Houston, we just enlisted a ceramic artist to create a piece of art to hang on the wall to create a sense of drama and add texture to her space. The piece is amazing and quite large, and we were able to choose the glazes ourselves in collaboration with the artist. It has been a wonderful experience, and I can’t wait to see the finished piece. 

Tile Accents 

And, of course, we are all familiar with ceramic tiles. Glazed and painted ceramic tiles can be a beautiful accent to kitchen backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, and entryway floors. While both made of clay, it is important to note that porcelain and ceramic tiles are not the same. Porcelain is fired at a much higher temperature, giving it a stronger, nonporous surface that’s good for high-traffic areas and bathrooms. Ceramic tiles, like Zellige, tend to offer a bit more character. Just know the properties and limitations of each. 

My Ceramics Crush 

As you can see, I have a special place in my heart for ceramics. From the humble coffee cup sitting on my desk keeping me company as I write to the commissioned wall art that will surely become my client’s heirloom piece — ceramics provide the level of beauty and practicality every relationship should have. 

 

Ceramics, I love you.