Discovering Lucie Rie

In the world of ceramic art, few names resonate as profoundly as Lucie Rie. One of Louisa’s the Studio’s greatest inspirations, Rie was a female pioneer of industry and understanding the legacy of Rie offers a deeper appreciation for the craft.  A self-titled ‘potter’, her pieces are celebrated for their modernist aesthetic which combine traditional methods with a contemporary elegance that continues to resonate to this day.

Understanding the artist 

Born in Vienna in 1902, Rie fled Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938, settling in London in a small mews house where she lived and had her studio for the rest of her life. Rie’s approach to her art was unique, believing that pottery should be both beautiful yet usable, and this functionalism was best expressed during the 50s and 60s when she created a series of tablewares - Rie’s practical philosophy echoes House of Grey’s Circular Salutogenic Design approach and is something we wholly identify with. 

"Even if the forms I make are sometimes bizarre, I make them to be loved and used."

Footed bowl by Lucie Rie late 50s

 Lucie Rie’s approach to creating  

Influenced by a blend of European and Japanese traditions, Rie’s Viennese background and early exposure to modernist movements played a significant role in shaping her distinctive aesthetic. Lucie Rie's ceramic forms appear simple but are greatly complex and it is in this intricacy where the true beauty lies. From slender-necked vases to wide bowls, each of her pieces are connected through their refined shapes which feature clean, precise lines. However, it is the range of glazing methods used which truly sets her work apart from her contemporaries, as she was influenced by the surfaces of the natural world and experimented with manganese, copper and other materials to create unique textures and colours (as seen in the image below).

Pink spiral vase by Lucie Rie 1978/9

Lucie Rie’s Legacy

Lucie Rie's legacy as a ceramic artist is a testament to her creativity and the quiet elegance of her work. Each of her pieces has a sense of stillness and inner strength and they are restrained and controlled, as a result her work has inspired numerous important figures of the contemporary design world. 

"The charm of her work lies in the warmth and nostalgia of manual labor that floods our hearts. Each of Lucie's pieces gives us a sense of the origin of her creation; each exists in a world of its own, neither in the East nor in the West.” - Issey Miyake 

As a Studio we appreciate Rie’s ability to question what is possible with one’s craft, be inspired by the natural world and create art which is beautiful yet functional.

Vase with flared neck by Lucie Rie 1984