Object Description
Contemporary hand-glazed clay vessel by Onka Allmayer-Beck
Austrian, 2023
Height 20cm, width 27.5cm, depth 27.5cm
Titled ‘Mini No. 264 (Confetti), this clay vessel was made by the well-known ceramicist, Onka Allmayer-Beck (Austrian, b. 1979). Made in the artist’s studio in Vienna, a slab-building technique was utilized to produce the piece.
The vessel is hand-made by Onka enabling her to express her design style in the best way possible. The piece is fired and glazed in various colours, such as orange, blue, green and black. The speckled design painted on top of the white glaze is reminiscent of confetti, hence the name of the piece given by Onka.
The intriguing form of the piece is attention-grabbing and forces its users to ask questions about its function. The vessel is multifunctional and can be used however the owner decides to be appropriate. For example, it can act as a flower vase, a candle holder or even as a fruit and vegetable stand. The possibilities are endless and are only limited by the owner’s imagination.
The central vessel is surrounded by numerous smaller spouts formed all around the piece. The piece is stamped with the maker’s mark.
Onka Allmayer-Beck graduated from Central St. Martins University in London and worked for famous brands such as Georgio Armani. In 2016 she became a ceramicist exploring the various processes of creating three-dimensional sculptures. Her work was exhibited in many galleries and institutions such as the Austrian Form in Moscow or the Galerie Raum mit Licht.
The charming and intriguing vessel would make a superb addition to a collection of contemporary works of art or a thought-provoking functional décor piece to the appropriate interior.