Eccentric And Electic Ebony
I have built up quite a collection of dining and serveware over the years and only a portion of them are stored in the curio cabinets in the Warmhouse Story Atmospheric Workshop. When approaching this project, selecting the makers to feature was a tough edit as there are so many gorgeous ebony or blackened objet in my curios. I’ll highlight a few that have a special meaning to me. They come from moments alone or together with others.
During the lockdown, I was pointed to the amazing assortment at Roman and Williams Guild. It was there that this flower lover found the gorgeous floral form language of the Rinka Collection by Kaneko Kohyo. You see several pieces from this talented maker in plates, a platter and dip bowls. They are hefty and earthy. I love how the light catches the petals of the pieces. They are surely investment pieces, but I use them often. I believe in investing in fine craft as a focus on meaningful purchases that will stand the test of time. I think that it is important that we stretch ourselves to see what is going on in various regions of the world when it comes to modern craft. There is a planet of creativity out there and it is relatively easy to go down the rabbit hole of research. Japanese pottery is just floating my boat these days. I have been to Japan once and found the people and the culture to be warm and steeped in beautiful traditions.
Another meaningful maker featured on this table is Honeycomb Studio by the lovely Courtney Hamill in Atlanta. A featured piece from her dinnerware collections is an ebony metallic bowl holding one of the tastiest elements of the charcuterie- lavender chocolate hummus with shortbread and madeleines. Courtney and I have a lot of future ideas cooking! She is gracious, talented, passionate, and so witty! Chad and I recently got to visit her studio in person while in Atlanta and her laughter and kindness is contagious. It is such a joy to collaborate with such a warm and welcoming creator. Hint: Just wait for our Holiday 2021 collaboration!
The final item from my curio cabinets that I want to draw your attention to is the little ribbed metal pitcher holding dried florals. I found this on Etsy and, along with the candle sticks and flouncy bows, brought that moody historic vibe to the table. For me, it always comes down to the mix. Styles like Victorian and Modern can mix beautifully when you have a common through line. In this case that link was an ebony-colored foundation for the colorful nibble and edible flowers.
The wonderful thing about learning to mix styles with a common thread is that you will find yourself mixing your treasured heirlooms with new investment pieces. I find that the nuance of the mix adds that bit of unexpected magic. It pushes us to make new and original presentations for to enjoy for ourselves and surprise the guests we host.
Ebony entertaining pieces. There you have it!