As an only child, Dutch ceramicist Lenneke Wispelwey longed for a larger family. So she created one via her extended body of work.
Drawing on her childhood experiences and her love of memorabilia, Lenneke uses slip-case porcelain to create “honest,” “low-tech,” tactile pieces that invite you to relate to them on many levels. The surprising juxtaposition of precise geometric forms combined with pretty sherbet shades gives her forms an appeal that is both cerebral and sensory, orderly and whimsical, immediate and nuanced. In other words, her pieces achieve the same beguiling balance of beauty, rhythm, and harmony so often found in nature.
Above: Lenneke’s pieces are porcelain that’s made to be touched, and put to use. Shown here, her Stars & Stripes cups in shades of petal pink. All of Lenneke’s designs are available directly through her at her studio in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Lenneke Wispelwey. Her Stars & Stripes Cups are also sold by SMUG Studio of London, for £29 each, and Red Star Studios of Kansas City, MO, for $38.
Above: Much like a family in which individuals share traits, Lenneke’s work plays with several subtly differentiated shades of the same hue, as shown in these small Daisy Vases, available through direct order at Lenneke Wispelwey; €39.
Above: Perfect for a single bulb or breakfast egg, Lenneke’s Petit Fours are the babies of the family; €25.
Above: The play of biscuit and glazed surfaces is another Lenneke Wispelwey signature, as seen on these carafes. The Blue Mr. Right Carafe is available through Red Star Studios; $170. Green and blue Mr. Right Carafes are also available through SMUG Studio in London; £139, or directly via Lenneke Wispelwey.
Above: Lenneke’s collection includes a full range dinnerware, which, thanks to their complementary hues, are even better mixed than matched. Midilicious Bowls are £31 each at SMUG.
Above: Star Vases are available through Lenneke Wispelwey for €39.
Above: Bottom Lines Plates are available at SMUG for £42 each.
Above: Lenneke’s collections also includes vase from short to tall, diminutive to massive. These Thin Vases are on offer at Red Star Studio for $51.
Heading to the Netherlands? You can visit Lenneke’s showroom in her studio in Arnhem, the Netherlands; it’s open Thursdays through Saturdays.
Interested in seeing more ceramics? Here are some of our favorites. Want to enjoy some pastels in the garden? See Foolproof Spring Bulbs at Gardenista. You might also like a tour of Ben Pentreath’s Garden in Dorset, Viewed Through the Mist.
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