Exhibition Details

Gallery FUMI is pleased to present Crockery: an exhibition of new works by designer Max Lamb in collaboration with 1882 Ltd., a contemporary ceramics factory based in Stoke-on-Trent, opening on 11 September 2025. The works are crafted using slip-cast earthenware from plaster models meticulously carved by hand. An embodiment of the innovative spirit of both Lamb and 1882 Ltd., this series challenges the conventional perception of ceramics as delicate and unsuitable for functional design. “Ceramic, often perceived as fragile and untouchable, intrigued me - especially because ceramic furniture is so rare. I wanted to explore its potential, not just as a sculptural medium but as a material capable of supporting the human form.”
The process begins with the heritage technique of slip-casting, traditionally reliant on a three-dimensional master model to produce a mould. However, for the Crockery series, this step is uniquely bypassed. Max Lamb serves as both designer and model-maker, using the tools of a stone mason to chip and carve solid blocks of plaster by hand. Exhibited will be two designs of chair and two designs of stool, with each product taking weeks to make, with all 23 potters at 1882 Ltd. involved in a meticulous process with the possibility of disaster at every stage. From filling the mould, tipping the mould, releasing the mould and then sticking up the chair, to the 3 week drying process and 36 hour firing cycle at 1140 degrees, the margins for error are as slim as they are for perfection. “Ceramic is unpredictable,” says Emily Johnson, founder of 1882 Ltd. “It shrinks, sags and transforms during firing. At over 1,100°C, it behaves like molten glass. Each piece is a true collaboration between Max and our master potters, who bring centuries of combined experience to ensure these ambitious designs are realised.” These works represent not just chairs and stools, but a bold statement on craftsmanship and collaboration, marking a milestone in a longstanding relationship between Lamb and 1882 Ltd.