During late winter, Ephraim artists boldly engage in an emerging tradition. We find space on our shelves and in our creative consciousness to build miniatures based on beloved Studio Collection designs. Our fine motor skills are already honed from holiday ornament production which intuitively turns our attention to what we fondly call “minis.”
Miniature Octopus Vase
In fact, it’s the artists’ experience over the past 15 years in developing and making hand-thrown ornaments that led to experimenting with one-of-a-kind miniature vases. The process offered our studio unique challenges, taking years to work through.
Miniature Stalwart Oak Jar
While the finely-wrought details in glazing and sculpting minis require similar techniques to their full-sized counterparts, it also requires more delicate motions, sharper tools, and ongoing patience. Loading an asymmetrical, minuscule figure with a tiny foot into the kiln demands precise balance so the pots can fire evenly.
Miniature Craftsman Rose Vase
To date, Ephraim has only managed to offer four miniature designs in short-run, limited editions – all in the last six or seven years. We will continue to welcome this post-holiday challenge because, in the end, the effort keeps us nimble and each successful attempt keeps us cherishing these astonishingly adorable and rare mini reproductions.
Shifting twilight creatures engage in a nightly game of hide-and-seek as the sun dips below the horizon. Ephraim’s stunning Shadow Play Bowl captures this ritual with a pair of bats and scarabs dancing on the rim of this high-shouldered form – a gradient of soft lavender cascades to deep indigo at its base. All this foretells the enchanted veil of nightfall inevitably closing in.
Artists created 31 pieces for this limited edition during September. The 31 pieces were offered for sale online and in our galleries on October 6th and were available until the edition sold out
-2018 Freaky Friday limited edition – fixed edition of 31, available while supplies last
-Thrown, sculpted & glazed by hand
-Approximately 5.5″H x 6″W
-Traditional earthenware is porous; liner recommended for use with water
The Wildflower Vase is one of 6 pieces from the new limited-edition 2018 Spring Collection (available for order through May 11, 2018). This piece incorporates many fine details and intricacies that we documented for you to see in this short video. We hope you enjoy watching a sampling of the mesmerizing processes involved in creating this wonderful vase.
Before Ephraim Pottery, potters Kevin Hicks and Ken Nekola, made miniature pottery as part of their work at Rowe Pottery. Rowe had a line of miniatures and sold doll tea sets to the Pleasant Company (American Girl Doll). Miniature-making required a special skill set and when it came time for Hicks to start Ephraim Pottery, he earned extra money working as an independent potter for the “Miniature Pottery” in Edgerton, WI.
Ornaments lead to Miniatures
Hicks’ and Nekola’s experience making miniatures eventually translated into hand-thrown ornaments at Ephraim. The ornaments, in turn, led to occasional experimentation with one-of-a-kind miniature vases. The finely-wrought details and demands in firing present a unique challenge that has taken the studio years to overcome. To date Ephraim has only managed to offer three miniature designs in short-run, limited-editions – all in the last 5 or 6 years.
Little Details make Divine Miniatures
This year, thanks to our master kiln-loader, Alek Schroeder, the fine motor sculpting skills of Ken Nekola and Laura Klein, and the amazing attention to detail and quality of our glazers, Jennifer Alexander, Becky Hansen, and Allison Jelenchick we are able to present you with three miniature designs in multiple glazing options. We are especially proud of the intricate details encompassed in this collection and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Limited Edition – Miniature New Frond Vase, $148 each or $542 for the Collection of 4. Organic Green, Pacific Batik, Algae & Autumn Reflections.Limited Edition – Miniature New Frond Vase. Thrown and sculpted by Ken Nekola. Glazed by Allison Jelenchick and Jill Winslow.
Limited Edition – Miniature Dancing Dragonflies Bowl, $168 each or $790 for the Collection of 5. Algae, Teal, Leaf Green, Pacific Batik & Autumn Wheat.Limited Edition – Miniature Dancing Dragonflies Bowl. Thrown and sculpted by Ken Nekola. Glazed by Becky Hansen.
Limited Edition – Miniature Sweet Magnolia Vase, $178Limited Edition – Miniature Sweet Magnolia Vase. Thrown and sculpted by Kevin Hicks. Glazed by Jennifer Alexander.
Introducing the 2017 Winter Collection. May these colorful designs brighten your home during this spirited season and bring you years of delight. We offer our sincere gratitude and holiday cheer for your loyalty and goodwill throughout the year.
This year’s Winter Holiday Series – Lyrical Poinsettia Vase – will be available until all 85 of the numbered edition pieces are ordered. The rest of the Winter Collection will be available in our galleries, online, or by phone 888.704.7687 through Dec 15.
Winter Design Series – Lyrical Poinsettia Vase. Thrown and sculpted by Kevin Hicks. Glazed by Jennifer Alexander.
Limited Edition – Snowy Birch Ornament. Thrown and sculpted by Ken Nekola. Glazed by Leah Purisch.
Limited Edition – Tree Hopper Ornament. Thrown by Kevin Hicks, sculpted by Laura Klein and glazed by Becky Hansen.
Limited Edition – Hidden Garden Ornament. Thrown and sculpted by Ken Nekola. Glazed by Becky Hansen and Jennifer Alexander.
Limited Edition – Dashing Through the Snow Tile. Pressed by Leah Purisch and Kevin Hicks. Glazed by Jill Winslow.
Limited Edition – Winter Bouquet Vase. Thrown by Alek Schroeder, sculpted by Laura Klein and glazed by Becky Hansen.
As the days shorten and shadows lengthen we see with fading light just how fascinating our little blue planet can be. From Twilight’s glow the 2017 Fall Collection reveals the stunning natural wonders, quaint creatures, and fairytale features of fall – the wildest season of the all. The Fall Collection will be available through September only.
Victory Falls – Limited Edition. Thrown & sculpted by Kevin Hicks. Glazed by Becky Hansen.
Honey Bear Chamberstick – Limited Edition. Thrown by Kevin Hicks, sculpted by Laura Klein and glazed by Allison Jelenchick.
Bat & Moonflower Vase – Limited Edition. Thrown by Alek Schroeder, sculpted by Laura Klein and glazed by Jennifer Alexander.
Cinderella Pumpkin – Limited Edition. Thrown by Kevin Hicks, sculpted by Laura Klein and glazed by Allison Jellenchick.
Silverwing Tile – Limited Edition. Designed, pressed and glazed by Leah Purisch.
Dragonflies show off their dramatic wings as they playfully promenade around the shoulder of this low bottle form. The Dragonfly Promenade Vase builds on a trio theme that is favored in classic Ephraim designs, like the beloved and recently-retired Dancing Dragonflies Bowl.
Introducing the 2017 Winter Collection. May these colorful designs brighten your home during this spirited season and bring you years of delight. We offer our sincere gratitude and holiday cheer for your loyalty and goodwill throughout the year.
