A Designer Updates a Centuries-Old Pottery Tradition

Back in 2013, designer Christopher Jenner was exploring China’s Yangtze River Delta, where the river churns through its final stretch before it meets the sea. Curious about the region’s crafts, he visited the city of Yixing, where he “fell in love,” he says, with its pottery. So begins the story of his Yixing collection, the new series of ceramic homewares his firm is debuting this month at Salone del Mobile, in Milan. Particularly celebrated for its teapots, Yixing is home to a centuries-old tradition that grew from its clay: Iron-rich and thick with quartz, it lends the pots a deep red color and a slightly rough finish. Jenner was intrigued. Soon, he and his team were working out of their London studio with craftspeople in Yixing to fabricate 20 items—plates, bowls, containers, and, of course, a tea set. At Salone, the collection will be presented in a calm, teahouse-inspired scene. The atmosphere, Jenner believes, will allow each piece to “hold its own” in a setting that nods to its origins.

(Photos: Michael Franke)