Gallery FUMI is pleased to present Crockery Chairs: A new series of works by designer Max Lamb in collaboration with 1882 Ltd., a contemporary ceramics factory based in Stoke-on-Trent. The works are crafted using slip-cast earthenware from plaster models meticulously carved by hand. An embodiment of the innovative spirit of both Lamb and 1882 Ltd., this series challenges the conventional perception of ceramics as delicate and unsuitable for furniture.
Gallery FUMI will debut the new series at this year's edition of Design Miami, USA, 3-8 December.
Max Lamb's mission has always been to experiment with every material. "Ceramic, often perceived as fragile and untouchable, intrigued me - especially because ceramic furniture is so rare. I wanted to explore its potential, not just as a sculptural medium but as a material capable of supporting the human form."
The process begins with the heritage technique of slip-casting, traditionally reliant on a three-dimensional master model to produce a mould. However, for the Crockery Chairs series, this step is uniquely bypassed. Max Lamb serves as both designer and model-maker, using the tools of a stone mason to chip and carve solid blocks of plaster by hand. Each work emerges organically, shaped through the act of making itself - a method Lamb previously employed in his celebrated Crockery series of tableware.
The works are a testament to collaboration and skill. "Ceramic is unpredictable", says Emily Johnson, founder of 1882 Ltd. "It shrinks, sags, and transforms during firing. At over 1,100C it behaves like molten stone. Each piece is a true collaboration between Max and our master potters, who bring decades of experience to ensure these ambitious designs are realised."
These works represent not just chairs, but a bold statement on craftsmanship and collaboration, marking a milestone in a longstanding relationship between Lamb and 1882 Ltd.
