Sunken Form

2024 │Oak, Cherry, Maple, Tung oil, Porcelin, white glaze │12x12x30"

Born from an exploration of the intersection between ceramics and woodworking, this table pushes the limits of function and material specificity. While taking a ceramics class, I challenged myself to consider the inherent roles of each material—ceramics naturally lend themselves to vessels, while wood informs structure. In response, I experimented with embedding a thrown ceramic form within a wooden surface.

The result is a small table where a white ceramic vessel, thrown in two sections, rests on a carved rim, its curves seamlessly integrating into the wooden tabletop. Furthering this interplay of form and function, I sculpted divots into the wood and crafted a custom-fitted wooden lid that echoes the vessel’s undulating rim. The ceramic piece can be easily removed for cleaning. While its function remains ambiguous, it might serve as a bread-and-dip dish or as a catchall in an entryway.

I hope to continue this exploration, creating larger ceramic forms inlaid into wooden furniture. These works investigate the shifting temporalities of wood and ceramics—how one endures while the other shatters, leaving its counterpart incomplete.

Below previous attempts at this way of working: