So, a little more on stools

The reason stools were on my mind in the first place was because of the below two beauties. How I managed to miss them out I have no idea..

Russell Pinch - well everything he makes is pretty astounding and I hope, will not become faddish or 'now', but behave a lot more like an Eileen Gray.

Seating for Eating by Ilse Crawford - well everything she makes has an ethos. Stools mean more bums around the table, more gathering, talking and eating, and that is all there really is, isn't there?

Enough stools.....

"true beauty is not made ; it is born naturally"

Or so Sori Yanagi said - the creator of this piece of loveliness. The butterfly stool is one of the few pieces of furniture I covet. I have since I was a teenager and I still love it as much now. I still don't have it, but I will and when I do have it, it will stay with me until some much younger relative puts dibs on it when I am ailing. You can buy new ones here, but I'm going to hold out for an original.

I am in fact a huge fan of stools. A little more casual than a chair, and definately a more inviting way of gathering around. They say, put your feet up, lets sit around the coffee table and eat cake, lets let the four year olds sit with the grown-ups....

A little round up of some other favourites.

Silver leather stools from Retrouvius on sale now. Find these and other great stools via the Decorative Collective website. You wont be able to stop looking.

 

Oh - delightful, beautiful, solid and functional. The Walnut stools were first designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Time Life Building in 1960, but being so perfect, they went on to world wide acclaim and lust-worthiness. Table, seat or the holder of your tea-cup, this stool would stack up in a Georgian townhouse (hopefully mine),modern apartment or 30's semi. Handcrafted and with a huge and happy personality. Again, new ones can be purchased from here.

 At £7.99, it's a very good looking, very useful and well made stool. A friend of mine has a cafe in NZ, where they have held their own for the last five years - that's a lot of bottoms eating cake. They are of course the Frosta from Ikea.

Tolix - French and functional - it's true! Hi or low, many many colours and will fit anywhere. You can buy new ones from Conran, Graham & Green or Baileys (my first choice).

I could go on and if I was pushing the category, I have this thing for Moroccan pouffes. In Marrakech in December, for some reason we didn't buy any. But we will next time - I love to haggle. Ed not so much me-thinks. Child and (small) dog friendly. A little reminder of my 70's childhood avec macrame, and I think a rather long-term friend once owned.

I'll stop now.

Curate - Potters

Potters, ceramics, earthenware – it doesn’t really matter. The thing that excites me about ceramics is that it’s usually used for cooking, eating and most importantly sharing. What better feeling than to be passing plates and platters of food around with your family, or old or new friends. Eating and talking together is a tradition we should continue to embrace and hold on to tightly. Eating alone is no fun.
There are surely thousands of exceptionally talented potters. Here are a few I’m particularly fond of.

HEATH CERAMICS

Heath Ceramics has been hand-crafted since 1948 . They create classic, modern and functional designs. New owners have revitalized Heath whilst keeping true to their roots. Simple, functional and beautiful. Also found in the permanent collection at MOMA. Not to be sniffed at.

MUD

An Australian company where I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the workshops. Organic shapes and stunning earthy colours. Built for sharing and a joy to present.

BILLY LLOYD

A young potter working out of East London. Simple, hand-thrown pieces and a talent to watch. You can buy Billy’s cups and jugs from Few and Far. If Priscilla Carluccio is stocking it, then he must be destined for greatness.

RACHEL CARLEY

Something completely different and I love her work. Saturated pastels and retro feminine shapes. Her colours are the ‘dirty’ side of pretty which makes them so much nicer. Much loved in her home country, New Zealand, Rachel is an architect turned potter.

JOAN PLATT


Probably my favourite out of all ( always save the best till last! ). Joan Platt has been fashioning in her studio in N.Y elegant simple ceramic tableware where every piece has been handcrafted – so every plate is slightly different. Unfortunately I can’t find a website or retailer for her anywhere. Note Joan is 72 and didn’t start potting until 25 years ago.