Professional ceramics designer, potter and founder of Charlotte Manser Ceramics, Charlotte Manser is passionate about teaching and building a ceramics community that enhances the craft industry. Her rural studio on the border of Berkshire overlooks the Oxfordshire countryside and here, in addition to creating her colourful pottery, Charlotte teaches ceramics workshops and courses. She also gives talks to fellow aspiring professional creatives in schools and educational organisations around the UK.
“Coming up this autumn/winter we have so many workshops - because who wants to stay at
home when you can be out being creative? We have a throwing evening on the 30 October, and a candle making workshop on the 26th. In November we have throwing and hand-building workshops, a stained-glass workshop, and a mindfulness pottery and drawing evening. And in December we have more throwing and hand-building pottery workshops and a fabulous Christmas wreath making workshop. In the new year we have our 10-week pottery course and a new four week throwing course.”
Charlotte’s signature style merges traditional craftsmanship with a modern aesthetic. Each piece is hand-thrown and instantly recognisable by its simplistic forms and rich, evocative glazes. Vivid hues of blues, greens and earthy pinks are inspired by the surrounding landscapes and the desire to create an immersive connection between the indoors and outdoors. With sustainability at the core of the brand, all products are made using local materials, in small batches and with low waste and plastic processes.
“I have always had a passion for sustainable living and an eco-conscious life. This of course
had to translate into my business as every item is made by me, therefore shares my values. I regularly look for ways to improve our sustainability practices and recently we introduced a water butt into the studio, so all studio members reuse the water rather than get fresh water when working.” And, what kind of challenges has that presented? “I have found it harder regarding electricity, as it is something we can’t avoid but I only fire the kilns when they are full, and I fire them on a quicker cycle.”
Each piece is made across a series of weeks, with multiple process stages and two kiln firings; turning the clay into ceramic and bringing the pieces alive with glaze. These functional pieces of art are formed by Charlotte, by hand with the use of heat, water and raw materials from the earth.
There are currently has ten glaze ranges available and over 40 products in each range, all rooted in a connection to nature and sustainability. From the best-selling Mountains range with notes of teal and lush greens; to the Mediterranean style Dunes range which traces undulating shapes in rust oranges and soft peaches. In essence, there is a glaze range to suit every taste and home decor.
Which begs the question, does Charlotte have a favourite? “Every time I make a new glaze range it becomes my new favourite! At the moment this is our sandstorm range. To me this
glaze feels warm and homely and is perfect for autumn. My favourite products to make are pasta bowls as I love the fluid movements when throwing them.”
Charlotte is rapidly becoming a well-known name in the slow craft movement, thanks to its community of dedicated customers worldwide and an engaged, rapidly growing social media following. She’s also picked up some significant celebrity fans along her journey when she collaborated with music artist John Legend to create a limited edition of co-designed ceramics. We wanted to know more about how this came about…
“In December 2022, I was contacted by Esty to say they loved my shop and would like me
to take part in an interiors collaboration they were doing with a celebrity. I was so excited
to find out it was John Legend. I worked with etsy and his team to create a range of products inspired by his home, love for textures, slow crafts and his passion for interior design. I created a range of mugs, coasters, pet bowls and candlestick holders, and these were sold as part of a limited-edition range.
The collaboration launched on my etsy shop in June 2023 and since then I have tripled my monthly sales and sold more products year on year than ever before. I now have four members of staff and an Instagram following of over 21,000. It seemed that everything came at once and the experience to work alongside John Legend was pretty incredible.”
This year the brand has expanded its kitchen range with the introduction of, now already best-selling, butter crocks, oil pourers and wine coolers. These products not only add style and function to any kitchen, but they also minimise the need for plastic packaging which chimes with supporting a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Looking ahead, Charlotte tells us; “We are going to be launching our new ‘bubble’ range soon which is very different to our current forms but will still be available in all of our well-known glaze ranges. This is already seeing a lot of interest from our teasers on our socials.”
Clearly, as Charlotte states, ‘The power of a good mug cannot be questioned’.
Prices start at £10 and products can be found at CharlotteManserCeramics.com
