Maison&Objet 2014: Dutch designers Studio Makkink & Bey collaborated with a family of craftspeople in northern India to develop a collection of Jaipur-clay ceramics (+ slideshow).
Studio Makkink & Bey worked with artisans in Jaipur to develop the collection, which was designed to celebrate the diversity of Indian craftsmanship.
"When we visited Jaipur for the first time we collected samples and met artisans, artists and craftsman," the designers told Dezeen. "Our aim was to connect different qualities and learn from each other."
Contrary to what the name implies, blue pottery is not necessarily one colour and can be decorated with blue, green and yellow dyes.
Studio Makkink & Bey's collection of plates, bowls, cups and vessels are hand-painted with designs that reference Indian dancers portraying different characters with their hands, each with their own symbolism.
The dancing hands have been translated into hand-carved wooded spoons shaped as fingers to complement the cups.
Marble pieces are designed to fit as lids onto the cups and bowls, but can also be used separately as table mats or serving platters.
The designers formed the range from Jaipur clay, prepared by mixing quartz stone powder, powdered glass, Multani Mitti – a bleaching clay powder also known as Fuller's Earth – borax, gum and water.
They worked with a family of craftspeople in the Jaipur area to learn the techniques and create the collection.
"We picked artisans who were interesting to us not only by their craft but also their way of doing business," said the studio. "The family we work with lives in a small village very close to the city. This small place is committed to blue pottery."
"It's a quiet area where artisans have the opportunity to work very in a very concentrated way to create high quality hand work," the designers added.
The Blue Pottery collection will be launched by Imperfect Design – which pairs Dutch designers with craftspeople in developing nations – during the Maison & Objet trade fair from 5 to 9 September in Paris.
