Crafting handpainted ceramics from their home studio in Kent, Harlie Brown Studio has now launched a new sun-soaked collection at Anthropologie. From mugs with wiggly handles to French-inspired tableware, founder Harlie tells us what to expect from her collection...
HB: I learned through 10,000 hours of hand-forming clay. I've taken a couple of classes to master specific techniques and have drawn on the vast knowledge of other makers via social media and YouTube.
HB: We were honoured to be approached about creating a collection of ceramics focusing on cheerful mornings and breakfast rituals.
HB: Each handmade piece is a combination of my organically shaped and playful ceramic forms and my husband Dan's painterly French style. Dan is known for his illustrative plates, and I love the four he's designed for this collection.
Highlights include a centrepiece platter featuring a blue border and delightful embossed foods, and a new wave-shaped handle for the cups and containers. I get a feel for the clay and the way it wants to move, creating beautiful dimples.
HB: Dan and I very much work separately and then come together to discuss and fine-tune details – fortunately, our tastes align. My ceramics are formed using a variety of techniques, such as slab building, coiling and pinching.
In creating this way, I can get a feel for the clay and the way it wants to move, creating beautiful dimples and gently formed curves.
HB: Céret is bursting with colour, sunlight and art – even Picasso lived there. The artisanal and vintage pieces we find here are a rich source of inspiration. Also, Dan was brought up in Brussels, and his handwriting naturally has a French flair, which works well on our plates.
HB: People are often too scared to use handmade pieces, so they end up being stored away, but I think functional art should be used all the time. Maybe that's slowing down with a warm cup of coffee in a special mug or serving up a meal to share with friends on a large platter – these everyday moments turn simple pieces into something meaningful.
Shop House Beautiful's top picks below...
Anthropologie x Harlie Brown
• The Belle Journée collection, starting from £16, is exclusive to Anthropologie
