The Oaxacan Loving Collection
Celebrating the contrast between black clay (barro negro) and pale terracotta, we present a collection of burnished clay from the traditional artesanal region of Oaxaca.
The barro negro style is typical to Oaxaca. The LOVING collection explores the qualities of this ceramic, contrasting it with pale clay from the same workshop. The black and pale styles come from the same material, yet through the treatment of the clay they become distinct. Barro negro is fired in a wood oven and receives colour through the heating process. The pale terracotta is oxidised during firing, leaving the pieces with varied finish on a spectrum from beige to peach. The styles are as different as night from day.
Reflections on Tradition
Oaxaca in the south of Mexico is a state rich in pre-hispanic pottery tradition.
The Loving collection is created using the historic artisanal techniques. The workshop takes the natural clay and cleans it by filtering it for 20 days. The clay is then burnished rather than glazed, by polishing the surface with a quartz crystal until it has a glossy finish with a warm glow. The pieces are then fired in underground pits or kilns, using a wood fire. This creates a tactile finish with a subtle shine.
Barro Negro: The Enigma of Shadows
The origins of the barro negro collection span the local and the global: exploring the possibilities of Oaxacan black clay, we took inspiration from a very different tradition of tableware.
The collection takes reference from ‘In Praise of Shadows’, a text by Japanese author Jun'ichirō Tanizaki and his admiration for the aesthetics of lacquer tableware. The dark opaque shine of lacquer brings ‘a moment of mystery’ to the tasting experience.
Across the globe in Oaxaca, Mexico, a unique terroir gives rise to a clay which, when burnished with a quartz stone, can give the same subtle shine.
Morning Sun
The pale terracotta is an experiment to explore the possibilities for Oaxacan clay outside of the traditional firing process. These pieces are made using the same clay and the same techniques as barro negro apart from during firing. The approach towards the natural shows the pure texture of the naked clay in all its variation.
