Amelie Riech and Jana Patz from Berlin set out to create Uncommon Matters
which made its debut this season with a collection that is
defintiely fragile on purpose. The famous Porcelain Street in
Thuringla, Germany provided them the means to realise their aim of
considering traditional values, crafts and materials and then to try
and place them in a whole new context. So in their first season, white
porcelain gets transformed into beautifully moulded neck collars and
delicate chains. "The factories we spoke to were thinking we were crazy
for wanting to do this and it was the first time they had ever done
something like this but I think afterwards when the pieces were made,
they were very proud," explains Riech who is also a stylist based in
Paris whilst Patz is in Berlin. No Wedgewood floral patterns here, as
the simplicity of the white, in glazed and biscuit (matt and unglazed
for those that don't watch Antiques Roadshow) form and with the
addition of platinisation enhances the shapes which took months of
development for Riech and Patz. A clever play on a man's stiff and
starched shirt collar, curved neck cuffs and a striking chain that
makes the most delicate tinkling noise. Riech and Patz, whilst they
have added a new functionality to porcelain, they also love the audio
aspect of the material so accompanying the showroom installation was a
soundtrack of procelain in motion, breaking and clattering. They also
don't mind people going at the piece with a feather duster though if
ornament glass cabinet are involved: "It's something you can take care
of and put somewhere in the house to admire."