Objects For Life

 Feldspar began in late 2016 after Jeremy and Cath Brown moved from London to the wilds of Dartmoor in Devon for a slower pace of life and some (head)space. Before they knew it, they’d bought a pottery wheel and made a 20-piece dinner set in time for Christmas. Deciding that designing and making everything they needed was much more rewarding than working for the UN (Jeremy’s previous career) or designing schools (Cath’s previous career)*, they set about turning their newfound hobby into a design brand.

 Their ethos was to create ‘objects for life’ - beautiful things made properly and to last, with an elegant and simple aesthetic to weather the trends of time. Inspired by items their grandparents used daily that were fifty, or even 300 years old and still serving their purpose perfectly, Jeremy and Cath began by making a mug for coffee - with a wonky profile to sit perfectly in the hand (mugs are only cylindrical because they are easier to make that way) and a fine handle hand-painted in a deep Cobalt blue to echo the palette of classic chinaware. Made out of fine bone china (the strongest type of ceramic) by a family pottery in Stoke on Trent. 

In 2018 Feldspar set up their own ceramics studio in Devon to supplement the production in Stoke. The team there make everything using a method called 'slip casting' - pouring liquid clay into plaster moulds. Mould making, slip-casting and industrial bone china production are all listed as critically endangered crafts by the Heritage Crafts Association in the UK. Many of the larger potteries in England now only serve as museums and showrooms, with all of their wares being made (more cheaply) abroad. We were anxious to preserve the skills and craft required to keep bone china production going in England, and to show that it is perfectly possible to make things from start to finish in the UK. Our Devon pottery now makes half of all our ceramics, and everything we make is hand painted there.

Feldspar’s modern and elegant bone china wares have been featured in World of Interiors, House and Garden, The Sunday Times Home, Telegraph Magazine and Living Etc. to name a few. Their handmade ceramic collections are sold in leading design retailers across the globe from Hong Kong to Canada. The team at Feldspar HQ are currently working on new bone china items and a collection of wooden goods. They are also in the process of turning their broken bisqueware into furniture…

To listen to Jeremy and Cath chatting about how it all began listen here.