Handmade stoneware planters by Bruce Rowe of Anchor Ceramics, created especially for TDF Open House!  Photo - Sean Fennessy.

Handcrafted ceramic jug and serving ware by Bruce Rowe of Anchor Ceramics.  Photo - Sean Fennessy.

Handcrafted serving ware with grey and blue oversized 'spots', created especially for TDF Open House by Bruce Rowe of Anchor Ceramics.  Photo - Sean Fennessy.

Ok so regrettably, we didn't have time to squeeze this post in before Melbourne Open House, but I really wanted to sneak it in before we open the doors to our SYDNEY Open House event this week... another very special collaboration with a talented local designer, especially for TDF Open House!

You might recall our recent post about Anchor Ceramics - the impressive side project of Melbourne based architect Bruce Rowe, who took up ceramics in 2009.  Bruce still works fulltime at MAKE architecture, but evenings and weekends are spent in his Northcote studio, creating a stunning range of handcrafted ceramic vessels, tiles and pendant lights, characterised by an understated aesthetic and simplicity of form.

After meeting Bruce earlier this year and falling in love with his beautiful work, I approached him to create some new pieces especially for Open House. I'm so glad he accepted!   The resulting range includes a series of brand new circular stoneware planters, which we have planted out with various pretty succulents especially for TDF Open House!

'Early ideas for the planters grew from conversations between Lucy and I at the Anchor studio' says Bruce of our little collab.  'I love plants and gardening, and have a real fondness for courtyard gardens with their potted plantings. The stepped shape of the planters reference the shape of traditional earthenware pots, and the low lying form was developed as it is ideally suited to being located on an outdoor table or in a grouping with other landscape elements'.  The planters are all made from an Australian stoneware clay that contains small iron particles. These particles react with the white glaze when fired, which gives the planters their distinctive speckled appearance.

In addition to these wonderfully tactile stoneware planters, Bruce has also customised his beautiful low-lipped ceramic servingware especially for us - adding a vibrant oversized 'spot' to his crisp white dinner and serving plates.  These are available with either a black, grey or blue oversized spot!

Bruce's planters will be available at Open House in Sydney this week in various sizes, and start at $100 for the small size. His stunning white ceramics jugs start from $105, and his white ceramic serving ware starts at $90.  They entire range is so elegant and understated and just effortlessly beautiful... like proper grown up dinnerware, with minimal embellishment and a proper kind of 'weight' to it, you know?  Yes you know.

TDF Open House is happening this Thursday Dec 5th - Sunday Dec 8th, 10.00am - 5.00pm daily in Surry Hills, Sydney - all details on our website here!

Elegant glazed white ceramic jugs by Bruce Rowe of Anchor Ceramics.  Photo - Sean Fennessy.