Large Open Water Vessel by Oikos Estudio

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Large open water vessel by oikos estudio x matter edit handmade dimensions: d 30 x h 40 cm (dimensions may … Read more Large open water vessel by oikos estudio x matter edit handmade dimensions: d 30 x h 40 cm (dimensions may vary). Materials: clay and experimental glazing conceived as a small architecture, the open water vessel is a tall form shaped to hold and to anchor a room. A restrained ridge runs through the silhouette—an architectural datum that gathers the proportions and gives the piece its quiet tension. Handbuilt by pascale zintzen (oikos estudio) from matter edit’s creative direction, each vessel is patiently formed over time and finished with brushed experimental glazes using wild pigments. Subtle shifts in tone, texture and edge are expected and celebrated; every piece is one of a kind, unified by shared intent. London-based studio matter edit, working across antiques, design objects and material culture, and barcelona-based ceramicist pascale zintzen of oikos estudio present *artefacts of shelter*, a collaborative ceramic collection exploring architecture, anthropology and the origins of dwelling. Rooted in a shared interest in material culture, history and form, the collection reflects on how objects have long shaped—and been shaped by—the ways humans live. “before there were cities, there were vessels. To understand our structures, we must first hold them in our hands.” — matter edit long before walls rose or cities spread, the first architecture was shaped by hand. Clay vessels—formed from earth and fire—held water, grain, scent and offerings. These objects were not only functional but also symbolic: early markers of dwelling, ritual and identity. *artefacts of shelter* examines the parallels between architecture and anthropology—how the spaces we build and the objects we shape reflect systems of storage, shelter and human connection across cultures and time. At the core of the collection are three clay vessel designs, each responding to a fundamental human need: a liquid vessel, a dry storage vessel and a ceremonial fragrance vessel. Developed from long-standing traditions of use and reimagined through a contemporary lens, the forms draw on anthropological references—from both vessels and architectural structures—across diverse regions, highlighting recurring gestures and shared structural logics that emerged independently across cultures. Though varied in reference, the vessels form a cohesive family. Developed from matter edit’s initial creative direction and brief, each piece is then interpreted and hand-built by pascale, patiently shaped over time, and finished with brushed experimental glazes using wild pigments. This process allows for natural variation in form and surface, making every vessel exclusive and one of a kind while remaining unified through shared proportion and intent. While their function may shift in a modern context, the vessels retain their symbolic origins, offering a quiet continuity between past and present, utility and ritual, object and shelter. Oikos estudio from pascale zintzen pascale is a multidisciplinary artist based in barcelona and el perelló, where she lives with her two kids and dog. She works on ceramic, tapestry, and painting. Pascale's work is inspired by wabi-sabi, childhood, and the mediterranean atmosphere. Her practice is characterized by slow manufacturing, strongly inspired by nature, respecting the times and processes that each piece needs. See less