Rügyek — Pink Ceramic Vase with Orange Detail

Rügyek is a handmade vase with a bold, symmetrical silhouette: a wide, flattened belly pinched at both top and bottom into two short cylindrical necks, so the form appears to be lifted on its own pedestal. The body is soft and slightly irregular — it is clearly something that grew in the hands rather than in a mould.

A dozen or so small curled appliqués are distributed across the belly, shaped like tiny buds or snail shells. Their saturated brick-orange stands in sharp contrast to the warm, powdery pink of the body, creating a rhythm that carries the eye all the way around the object. The glossy glaze picks up light separately on every bud, enlivening the whole surface. The vase is handcrafted in a small studio, which means the placement and shape of the buds and the exact shade of the glaze are unique to each piece. The object looks best standing alone, against a pale, muted background.