Rouyi Stoneware Ornament - Grey

Rouyi is a grey stoneware ornament shaped as one continuous sweep of clay. It rises from a narrow foot in two curving arms that climb, twist and meet in a loop at the top, leaving an open space through the middle of the form. The glaze runs down it in paler and deeper tones of grey, flecked with speckled patches, so the surface has the movement of poured water. It stands 34.5cm tall, 28cm long and 12cm wide, and at 1.6KG it is a substantial piece with real presence on a shelf.

Because the centre is open, it looks good from more than one angle, so it suits places where it is seen in the round: a side table beside a window, where daylight passes through the loop, a console table in a hallway or the end of a sideboard in the living room. At 12cm wide it fits a narrow bookshelf or a mantelpiece, though at 34.5cm tall it needs a shelf with a little headroom. It sits comfortably beside framed prints and books on a desk in a study, and it makes a thoughtful gift for someone furnishing a new home who prefers one good piece to a cluster of small ones.

It is made entirely of stoneware, a dense clay fired at high temperature, which accounts for its weight and gives it a steady footing on a shelf or table. The finish is a flowing glaze, and the maker notes that the nature of the glaze means colour variations may occur, so each ornament may carry its own pattern of tones rather than an exact copy of another. It is a decorative piece, not a vase or vessel. We like it raised on a short stack of books with space left around it, so the curves and the open loop have room to breathe.

How big is the Rouyi ornament?

It is 34.5cm tall, 28cm long and 12cm wide and weighs 1.6KG, so allow a shelf or table with a little headroom and depth.

What material is the ornament?

It is made entirely of stoneware, finished with a flowing glaze that runs over the surface in paler and deeper tones of grey.

Is every piece glazed exactly the same?

Not quite. The maker notes that, due to the nature of the glaze, colour variations may occur, so each ornament has its own pattern of tones.

Can I put flowers in it?

No. It is an ornament rather than a vase: the form is an open loop with no neck or mouth, so it is for display alone.

What is included?

You receive the single stoneware ornament and nothing more; the styling props shown are not included.

Where does it look best?

It suits a sideboard, a console table, a bookshelf with some headroom or a desk, anywhere its open loop can be seen from more than one side.