Few collaborations carry the weight of history quite like this one. Wedgwood, the Staffordshire ceramics house with over 260 years of heritage, has joined forces with Jonathan Anderson, fashion’s restless innovator, to create some of the best coffee mugs we've ever seen.
At its heart are designs by Lucie Rie, one of the twentieth century’s most revered potters. In 1964, she submitted a set of cups and saucers to Wedgwood that, for reasons unknown, never went into production. Six decades on, Anderson and the Rie estate have worked with Wedgwood’s artisans to bring them to life for the first time. Crafted in the brand’s signature Jasperware, the pieces arrive in a cool palette of Jasper blue with white inlays, each finished by hand to the exacting standards that have defined the house since the eighteenth century.
Alongside Rie’s realised designs sit mugs conceived by Anderson himself, their colour pairings lifted from fifth-century Greek artefacts in his personal collection. Bold and graphic, they channel his fascination with history and make a lively counterpoint to Rie’s understated elegance.
What makes the project more than an exercise in design nostalgia is its purpose. Proceeds will go towards the newly formed Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Foundation, which will preserve archival material and fund scholarships for future makers.
For Anderson, it’s a continuation of his knack for revitalising heritage – just as he has done at Loewe, and now Dior – but with a rare sense of humility. “Lucie Rie is one of the greatest potters of the twentieth century,” he says. “I think she would be thrilled to see these pieces finally brought to life.”
Next up: 20 Pieces of minimalist homeware to spruce up your space.
