Ceramic art by Ipek Kotan at Decorex London

 Limoges porcelain vessel with satin metallic glaze

Whatever your opinion of autumn, it is perhaps pure coincidence that this evocative time of vibrant colours and the end of summer coincides with the beginning of the London Design Festival. For the interior design community, Decorex is one of the more important dates in the calendar. Synonymous with luxury, Decorex brings designers together to celebrate exceptional quality, beautiful materials and outstanding craftsmanship.

This year’s Decorex, now in its 39th year, also comes along as the UK’s interest in pottery is enjoying something of a vogue; buyers are developing a stronger appreciation of the skills and heritage behind ceramic art, while Decorex itself is attracting more independent designers which means more variety and cutting-edge work.

Limoges porcelain vessel with jade crackle glaze

One of the designers at Decorex is Ipek Kotan, an artist we met at Ceramic Art London back in April. Her latest collection of porcelain works will be on show, and once again we’ve found ourselves fascinated by the wonderful world of the vessel.

Limoges porcelain vessel with satin matt warm metallic glaze with crystals 

Taking inspiration from ceramics uncovered in archaeology, Ipek’s works draw on Kotan’s childhood experience and interest in the subject, so it’s deeply personal too. Rather like the vessels discovered beneath the ground, the variations in Kotan’s work mean each piece is entirely unique and fascinating in its own right.

Minimalists will be drawn, as I was, by the curvaceous exterior of each vessel; Kotan doesn’t use any moulds in the process of throwing the vessel on the wheel, again giving each its own identity through the differences in thickness and height.

However, peer inside one of these elegant vessels and a new dimension unfolds. Framed like a painting in the midst of the porcelain or stoneware surrounding it, each vessel features one of Kotan’s mystifying glazes, all of which are created in her studio in Holland. She tells me creating the glaze is one of her favourite parts of the process as she experiments with different materials – molten glass and crystals for example, to make the glaze shimmer. It’s where art meets alchemy.

Limoges porcelain vessel with metallic crystal glaze

Indeed, the fascinating paintings can also be wall mounted as Ipek recently began to design pieces for the wall, as well as the traditional vessel styles.

One of these works of art would make a beautiful gift or a truly unique addition (or beginning) of a collection of ceramics. Ipek will be at Decorex at Syon Park, London from 18-21 September.

Ceramic art by Ipek Kotan is available to view, purchase and commission at www.ipekkotan.com

You can also read our interview with Ipek here.