Harlan Stoneware Ornament - Blue

This stoneware ornament is a piece of abstract sculpture for the home: a tall, softly modelled form that rises from three broad feet to a rounded top, with a short curling arm to one side and an open loop to the other. It is made entirely of stoneware and finished in a deep blue glaze with a high gloss, applied so that it runs down the body in drips and streaks and catches the light differently from every angle. At 30cm tall, 15.5cm long and 12cm wide it has real presence on a surface without crowding it, and at 0.65KG it feels solid and settled when you lift it.

As a purely decorative piece, it can go wherever a shelf or table needs a focal point. It sits comfortably on a side table beside a sofa or armchair, on a sideboard or console in the hallway, on a mantelpiece, or on a bookshelf where its height breaks up a run of books. On a desk or bedside table it gives the eye somewhere to rest. It suits anyone who prefers decoration that is sculptural rather than figurative, and it makes a thoughtful gift for a new home, since the abstract form and blue glaze sit easily in both light and dark rooms.

Stoneware is a dense clay fired at a high temperature, which gives it a hard, durable body, and the glaze seals the surface with a glassy finish. The tips of the feet are left free of glaze, so the fired clay shows where the piece meets the surface; on polished wood, a small felt pad under each foot is a sensible addition. For styling, give it room: it looks best on its own or beside one or two lower pieces, such as a short stack of books or a low candle, so the open loop and tall silhouette stand clear against the wall.

What is the ornament's material?

It is made entirely of stoneware, a dense clay fired at a high temperature, and glazed in glossy blue everywhere except the very tips of its feet.

How big is it?

It stands 30cm tall, 15.5cm long and 12cm wide, so it sits comfortably on a side table, shelf, sideboard or mantelpiece.

How heavy is it?

It weighs 0.65KG, which gives it a solid, settled feel in the hand and on a shelf or table.

Is it a vase or a candle holder?

No. It is a decorative ornament, a piece of abstract sculpture made to be displayed on its own rather than to hold flowers or candles.

Where would it look best?

It works well on a side table beside a sofa, or on a sideboard, mantelpiece, bookshelf or desk, anywhere a single sculptural piece can stand with space around it.