Brand New Splatterware for Your Kitchen from Cleiog Ceramics

I always say my purpose at Rhubarb & Hare is to find beautiful but useful things for your home.  To find those homewares, crafted by small UK makers with great passion and attention to detail, that will give you joy every single time you use or see them in your home.

I'm very privileged to be able to stock the pottery of Cleiog Ceramics.  Working from her garden studio, Menna at Cleiog makes exceptional ceramics combining her love of vintage French designs and her meticulous precision.  Whenever Menna makes something you should know that she will have worked on and finessed that design so it is as perfect as can be.  A while ago I spotted a spoon rest on Menna's instagram in a new splatterware glaze which I can never resist.  I immediately asked her to make me one and i can not tell you how much we love it.  I know!  It's a spoon rest but honestly, this spoon rest is so tactile it has quickly become one of our favourite things in the kitchen.  Bonkers but I assure you utterly true.  Not only does it stop our counters being splattered but it's so gorgeous we're totally happy for it to be out by our hob all the time.

Then a few months ago the garlic pot we'd had since Mr Rhubarb & I first moved in together broke.  I knew immediately that there was only person I wanted to make us a new one.  Menna & I had a few chats back and forth and voila, the garlic pot was made.  I adore the loop handle which I really wanted despite it adding a ridiculous amount of time to the production process.

I still find it amazing that from a ball of clay Menna is able to make a garlic pot.  I wish I had that skill.  Each ball of clay is weighed and then wedged to remove air bubbles in preparation for throwing. The garlic pots are thrown in two separate pieces, the pot section first where a gallery is added to the rim to hold the lid which is thrown separately once Menna has measured the width of the gallery to ensure a tight fit. Then the loop handle and ventilation holes are added and left to dry slowly for up to 2 weeks. Then they are bisque fired to 1000 degrees to transform them to a ceramic porous state ready for the glaze application. Before glazing, Menna uses a splatter technique with a soft brush and flicking motion with a dark blue underglaze. A white glaze is applied and then they are fired to 1210 degrees which takes 48 hours. Then the bases are sanded and they are ready to use.  Imagine all that work, time and dedication.  I now have both the spoon rest and the garlic pot by my hob on the kitchen island and they are one of the first things people comment on when they spy them!

You can view all of Cleiog Ceramics collection at Rhubarb & Hare HERE