This is one of my most favorite Katherine Houston ceramic pieces! The tender asparagus stalks appear as if they are dancing around a maypole. And the pink ribbon of hearts… well, just because!
Summer is the sensational season for flowers and fresh vegetables. They are especially appreciated by those of us living with the “four” seasons of New England! Mother Nature’s gift of magnificent flowers and vegetables have a natural shelf life and then, voila, sadly they are gone. The clever solution to this natural phenomenon? Well, it comes in another form of brilliant magnificence... masterfully sculpted, beguiling botanical ceramic creations by the stellar artist, Katherine Houston.
I gave a talk at the charming Chilton Club in Boston, about my first book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room. My precious friend, and the member who arranged the event, Tita Hyland, also hosted a divine luncheon after the lecture. To my right, she seated her friend, Katie, as in Katherine Houston. I was thrilled to get to know Katie, and to learn more about her decorative porcelain artwork, which I have long admired- 18th Century porcelain in the 21st century! We have remained friends ever since.
What inspired me to share Katherine Houston’s work with you? While passing a local farm stand today, I had that pang, that thought... I do not want summer to end! I adore utilizing the happy harvest of flowers in the house and having colorful veggies displayed in the kitchen. Then, I had an ah-ha moment! I can keep the bounty of summer in the house for all seasons by displaying Katie’s latest creations. Divine fruit and flowers that never lose their beauty and live all year long!
Look at the delicate frilliness on the leaves of the lettuce, the pink bow on the string beans, and the vibrant red onion! They are simply a taste of “summer” on a table. I have seen pieces similar to these assembled beautifully together on a sideboard in a dining room as an enchanting adornment. An example of this is in my book, Pearls of Palm Beach, in the Irish House chapter.
Katherine is influenced and inspired by ancient Imperial and Chinese wares, along with those of 18th century Meissen and Sevres. She carries on the tradition of hand-sculpting hard-paste porcelain, using only 18th century colors to hand-paint her masterpiece creations of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Her work is collected throughout the USA, Europe, South America, and Japan, and her pieces grace prestigious museums. Her work is so prized that The White House commissioned her to create an exclusive work of art, an authentic “American Pumpkin” to be given as State Department gifts. How appropriate, and much more attractive than an American turkey!
Katherine hand-paints her compositions using only 18th century colors. I can imagine this piece, once finished, as a stunning centerpiece on a dining room table. And, it will not require any tending to, only visual appreciation!
You can see the exquisitely rendered detail in her work. Each piece is quite unique due to its sheer difficulty and complexity. It is a lengthy process, which can take months, even a year, for her to conceive the envisioned ideal form and balance she requires in her creations. Using white clay from South Carolina, along with her over 300 colors of paint, each creation is one-of-a-kind. On her website, KatherineHouston.com, the fascinating creation process is explained in detail.
The Chelsea Melon is 10” high, and would be ideal on a breakfast table, don’t you think? If you are short on fruit to serve, no problem… just dine with your eyes!
These artistic pieces can be displayed just about anywhere in a house. Well, perhaps not in the children’s playroom! When I spy one of Katherine’s pieces in someone’s house, it never ceases to make me smile. I admire those who can appreciate one-of-a-kind beauty. It is as if Mother Nature left a calling card... created by Katie!
Millennial Tip
Just as a flower arrangement is enhanced with a silver platter or a complimentary porcelain platter under the vase, porcelain fruits, vegetables, and flowers can also be enhanced.
When you purchase one decorative porcelain piece, keep the color scheme of the room in mind, and think about potentially collecting more of the same genre, so that a vignette may be created in the future. A vignette of several smaller pieces, that are similar in style, can often have more impact than one piece.
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