A Dreamy Custom Collection

I’ve been slowly crossing some of the items off my “to do “ list for this quarantine time. The next one up is to write a blog post about an amazing collaboration I worked on last year with Happy Menocal Studio.

My “Sitges” tableware collection has always been one of my favorites. It’s all hand-thrown on the potter's wheel from porcelain, with hand-carved edges that take a lot of time and care, but the result is so worth it! The collection, in clean white with undulating lines, is inspired by the elegant and relaxed beach lifestyle of coastal towns around where I grew up in Spain. The collection was customized for a wedding that took place in the Tuscan countryside, at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

The wavy, Mediterranean-inspired dishware was stamped with a playful Happy Menocal monogram in four different colors, matching the tones of the hand-painted tablecloths, lampshades, and other items in the wedding that Happy designed.

The whole process was a labor of love! Each piece was thrown and dried, then the custom monogram was stamped into the surface, and the edges were carved with a knife. After these steps, the pieces were bisque-fired, glazed and hand-painted, then fired a final time.

The wedding project turned out so incredibly beautiful! The experience of this collaboration was very special for me, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with the whole event team, including wedding planner Beth Helmsteter, photographer Stefano Santucci, flower designer Tuscany Flowers, and filmographer Alessandro Bordoni. And, of course, my lovely, extremely talented neighbor, Happy Menocal! It would be a dream to work with such talented people on all my future commissions!

Wedding photos courtesy of Stefano Santucci.

Micòl Ceramics on Reuters TV’s "Generation Maker"!

I was recently contacted by Reuters to be featured in a documentary video series called, “Generation Maker.” The series focuses on small manufacturing businesses. A small camera crew came to my studio for an intense afternoon of interviewing and recording. I’m thrilled with the result! Here is the episode, called, “Generation Maker: Old World Craft Finds a New Clientele.” (Click the video to unmute!)

Museu Nacional do Azulejo, Lisbon, Portugal

It's been quite a while since my last post! But what better reason to write than to tell you about one of the most wonderful museums I visited this summer during my vacation in Europe!

Museu Nacional do Azulejo is a gem in one of the few European cities where ceramics has a real tradition: Lisbon, Portugal. Whereas Meissen in Germany, Limoges in France, Manises in Spain, and Faenza in Italy are all famous for their fine dinnerware and decorative pieces, Lisbon is best known for its tradition of using ceramic tiles as building cladding. Walking down the ancient streets of Lisbon, one’s eyes are delighted by the variety of colors and patterns covering nearly every facade.

The history of tiles (“azulejos”) in Portugal dates back to the 13th century, when there was a large Arabic population on the Iberian peninsula. During these early years, tiles were used extensively in interior spaces. However, in the 15th century, King Manuel I of Portugal visited the south of Spain and saw tiles being used on the exteriors of buildings, and he brought the craft back home to his country.

Tiles are a simple slab of clay, cut into geometric shapes, then decorated after bisque firing. A variety of oxides and, more recently, colored stains, are typically applied over a white glaze. Historically, the dominant decorative tile colors in Portugal were blue, yellow, green, and white. However, in the 17th century, a simpler color palette of deep blue on white became fashionable (influenced by Ming Dynasty porcelain from China). In the 18th century, the popularity of tiles exploded in Portugal, seeing widespread use in churches and convents, palaces and homes, gardens, fountains and staircases.

Museu National do Azulejo occupies the former Convent of Madre Deus, founded by Queen Leonor in 1509. The building itself is an example of the lovely renaissance style in Portugal (though parts of it were rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1755). The museum is organized across two floors, with a light-filled courtyard in the center. Many of the walls of the old structure, including those of the ornate chapel, are covered in original painted tiles.

Arranged around the courtyard are many galleries displaying well-preserved tile arrangements from different historical periods. Visitors can trace the fascinating development of tiles in Portugal from its origin all the way up to the present day.

During my life as a ceramic artist I have seen countless examples of painted ceramic wall tiles (and have worked on several murals, myself). I am often impressed by their beauty, but, as I work with decorative ceramics every day, I’m rarely surprised. However, being surrounded by the countless Portugese tile masterpieces in this museum was overwhelming, and a complete joy! For all of you ceramics enthusiasts, I highly recommend visiting this special place!