Crockery by Max Lamb and 1882 Ltd.: Pioneering Ceramics at Gallery FUMI
‘Crockery’, presented by Gallery FUMI from 11 September 2025, introduces a groundbreaking collaboration between celebrated British designer Max Lamb and ceramics specialists 1882 Ltd., based in Stoke-on-Trent. The result: an entirely new vision of furniture made in clay, realised as a series of ceramic chairs and stools that challenge the boundaries of both material and function.
A Radical Vision in Clay
Ceramics have long been associated with fragility, delicate vessels, decorative ornaments, or functional yet cautious tableware. Lamb and 1882 Ltd. reject this perception outright. With Crockery, they push ceramics to its limits, asking whether clay, when placed under rigorous craftsmanship, can become the foundation of strong, durable, and functional furniture.
The answer emerges in the chiselled profiles of each chair and stool. Every piece is formed through an intensely physical process, beginning with Lamb carving plaster blocks by hand. These interventions, repeated over time, create surfaces that are irregular, tactile, and imbued with the human imprint. The chiselled plaster models then serve as master references for slip-casting, a method where liquid clay is poured into moulds, left to set, and carefully dried under controlled conditions before firing.
The palette, limited yet striking, comprises white, black, and blush pink. These hues are not surface additions but natural results of firing, highlighting the authenticity and purity of the clay itself. The absence of glazing or embellishment ensures that the rawness of the material speaks directly to the viewer.
Collaboration and Craft
At the heart of this exhibition lies collaboration. Lamb, known for his fearless engagement with materials, from pewter and polystyrene to marble and wood, has consistently sought to reveal the innate qualities of substances by working with them directly, often in experimental ways. His approach aligns seamlessly with 1882 Ltd., a company with deep roots in Stoke-on-Trent, the historic heart of British ceramics.
Under the directorship of Em Johnson, 1882 Ltd. has carved a niche at the intersection of industrial production and artisanal craft. Their projects often sit at the edge of tradition and innovation, honouring generations of ceramic expertise while pushing forward into uncharted territory. This balance makes them ideal collaborators for Lamb’s radical proposition: could clay, a material synonymous with fragility, become a viable medium for furniture?
The answer is found in the perseverance of both parties. Each chair and stool is the product of countless hours, patient waiting, and trial and error. Clay is not forgiving—it resists haste and demands respect. Weeks of drying, the precision of slip-casting, and the unpredictable nature of firing meant that failure was always a possibility. That these works exist at all is a testament to a shared determination to court risk in pursuit of a breakthrough.
Chairs and Stools: A Continuation of Practice
The choice of chairs and stools is far from incidental. Seating has been a central motif in Lamb’s career, recurring as both a practical design solution and a philosophical inquiry into the ways humans interact with materials. By rendering these familiar objects in ceramics, Lamb heightens their symbolic weight. They are recognisable, even archetypal, yet startling in their materiality.
The rough-hewn surfaces recall stone or concrete, yet the fragility of clay lurks beneath their apparent solidity. This tension, between strength and vulnerability, tradition and experimentation, imbues the pieces with a sense of precarious wonder.
A Statement of Innovation
Crockery is more than an exhibition; it is a declaration. It insists that ceramics need not be confined to vessels or tableware but can occupy new and ambitious roles within design. For the London Design Festival, where innovation is paramount, the exhibition exemplifies the kind of radical thinking that keeps the city at the forefront of global design.
For visitors to Gallery FUMI, the experience will not only be visual but also conceptual. To encounter a ceramic chair is to confront assumptions, to consider the possibilities of materials anew, and to reflect on the patience, precision, and vision required to bring such a project to life.
All Photography: Tom Hartford, courtesy of Gallery FUMI
Craft at the Edge of Possibility
In Crockery, Max Lamb and 1882 Ltd. have achieved something extraordinary: a body of work that is simultaneously functional, sculptural, and deeply experimental. These ceramic chairs and stools stand as icons of collaboration, perseverance, and material courage. They remind us that true innovation often lies not in abandoning tradition but in interrogating it, stretching it, and reshaping it until it reveals new frontiers.
As the London Design Festival unfolds, Crockery at Gallery FUMI promises to be a defining highlight—a celebration of British craft, international design thinking, and the fearless spirit of experimentation.
Exhibition details:
Crockery by Max Lamb and 1882 Ltd.
Gallery FUMI, London
11 September – 30 September, 2025
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