The Story of Poterie Not

For the Samburu of northern Kenya, beads and beaded adornments have specific and nuanced meanings tied to centuries-old traditions. Each bead is significant, and each magnificent piece is a fully realized story.

It is in the department of ‘Aude’ in Occitanie, near the well-known town of Castelnaudary (famous for its Cassoulet), down a small country road, across from the Canal du Midi that ‘Poterie Not' appears. The building which is nondescript is made up of a house, shed and a lime kiln. It’s as if time stood still, but behind those doors lies almost a century long history of a family-owned pottery business. 

In a city once home to hundreds of silversmiths, only one remains—Jarosinski & Vaugoin, a Viennese institution crafting exquisite silverware since 1847. Led by sixth-generation silversmith Jean-Paul Vaugoin, the atelier continues to shape heirlooms fit for royalty, blending centuries-old tradition with contemporary craftsmanship.

In the garden of a 17th-century farmhouse near Bath, Mulvany & Rogers create miniature buildings in meticulous 1:12 scale. Founded by Susie Rogers and Kevin Mulvany, the studio has recreated Versailles, Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court, each built by hand and grounded in detailed research. With backgrounds in art history, they focus not just on accuracy, but on atmosphere. “We want it to feel like someone has just walked out of the room,” says Susie.

Assia Pallavicino transforms walls in her Florence studio into painted illusions inspired by the botanical beauty of Tuscany. She was trained at the Van Der Kelen Logelain Institute in Brussels and blends classical technique with contemporary finesse. "Nature is always where I go back to," she says. Guided early on by her aunt Idarica Gazzoni Frascara, founder of Arjumand's World, Assia channels a rich artistic heritage into finely detailed, hand-painted interiors.

Exploring the symbolism, language, and ritual significance Indonesian textiles, which intertwine rich cultural traditions and a dream of the future. In Lamboya, West Sumba, the traditional craft of weaving—a true way of life—has endured for centuries. The craft of ikat is inseparable from the identity of the island. Each thread is tied to a story, and every pattern is a reflection of the land, the ancestors, and the spirits.

For centuries, the Sütő family has been celebrated for their masterful furniture making, carving and painting, blending Szekler traditions with natural materials and timeless designs. Their legacy dates back to 1568, when they arrived in the village of Vârghiș to repair a manor house. Nestled in the serene, wooded region of Szeklerland in Eastern Transylvania, Vârghiș remains home to István Sütő and his family, who continue to create, restore, and paint furniture while preserving their cultural heritage.

From his Warsaw studio, Polish artist and designer Marcin Rusak casts blooms, stones and other found natural objects in rust and moss-hued resin. Drawing on his family legacy of flower growers and the wild solitude of the Bieszczady Mountains to create sculptural pieces where petals, lichen, and time itself seem to drift beneath the surface.

In a quiet corner of West Wales, Rosa Harradine is reviving the near-forgotten craft of brush and broom making. Working from her tin-roofed garden studio in Carmarthenshire, she uses traditional techniques and globally sourced fibres to create pieces that are both practical and beautiful. Wrapped in coloured hemp thread, each brush is a celebration of process, form and the handmade.

British ceramicist Boris Aldridge left a successful music career in London to move to Suffolk and make tiles with his father. After an inspiring visit to the Alhambra, Boris was struck by the beauty and complexities of Islamic patterned tiles, which set him on a totally new career path.

From her studio in rural Shropshire, ceramicist Isatu Hyde creates stoneware and earthenware that strike a quiet balance between everyday utility and sculptural presence. Her practice is rooted in a deep respect for pre-industrial craft traditions. Shaped by a four-year apprenticeship with master potter Andrew Crouch, Isatu draws inspiration from a wide cultural range, spanning Chinese and Medieval European to West African and Minoan ceramics.

Plaster specialist Lorna Kollmeyer did not start out with a grand business plan. Nevertheless, her beautiful ornamental plaster and studio in Hunters Point Shipyard, San Francisco, are a masterclass in creativity and innovation. Her spectacular workshop, the last of its kind in the city, is a place that honors craftsmanship and artistry.