Contemporary handmade ceramic vessel by Onka Allmayer-Beck

Made using an intriguing slab-building technique, this clay vessel is titled ‘Mini No. 269 (Rain) and comes from Onka Allmayer-Beck’s ‘Mini’ series.

The artist created the vessel using the processes of hand-forming and hand-glazing. The piece is twice fired for 24 hours, demonstrating the very time-consuming manufacturing process. Glazed in bright blue and white, the surface imitated a cloudy sky with rainfall, giving inspiration to Onka’s creation.

A central rounded rectangle is supported on four durable legs which are joined by a further clay ring.

The function of the piece is not decided by the artist but rather by the user. The vessel can act as a business card holder, a fruit bowl or a pen holder. The functions are numerous and only limited by the user’s imagination.

The maker’s mark is stamped on the underside of the vessel.

Onka Allmayer-Beck is an Austrian ceramicist who in 2016 began her journey as an artist. Prior to the career change, she has graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and worked for world-famous brands such as Giorgio Armani. Here thought-provoking and unusual pieces were exhibited in numerous institutions and galleries, for example, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna.

Painted in a muted colour palette but of an original design, this vessel would make an excellent addition to one’s collection of contemporary art and design.