Christmas Pottery Collection

Capturing Winter in Clay: Unveiling My New Holiday Collection

There is something magical about the studio this time of year. As the world outside turns gray and chilly, the kiln is hard at work turning mud into something permanent and beautiful. This season, I wanted to capture that specific stillness of winter. I tried to replicate the way ice forms on a windowpane and the depth of a frozen pond.

I am so excited to finally share the Zilant Pottery Christmas Collection.

This body of work was a series of experiments with texture, layering, and complex construction. Here is a look at what came out of the kiln.

The "Ice Crackle" Series

One of my main goals for this collection was to mimic the texture of ice. I experimented with crackling glazes, hoping that they would help me achieve that look.

The result is a stunning finish that features thousands of tiny, intricate cracks across the surface. It looks exactly like shattered ice or the frost that forms on a car windshield.

I didn’t want to limit this just to drinkware, so you will find this glaze on a variety of functional pieces:

• Mugs: Perfect for warming your hands around.

• Oil Bottles: To bring a touch of winter elegance to your kitchen counter.

• Soap Dispensers: Turning an everyday object into a piece of art.

The "Frozen Pond" Technique

For the bowls in this collection, I wanted depth. I wanted you to look into the bottom of the bowl and feel like you were looking into deep, freezing water.

Achieving this required a very specific, intricate layering process. It wasn’t easy, but the kiln worked its magic. These bowls are a result of six distinct layers of glaze application:

The Recipe:

• 2 Layers of Base Glaze

• 2 Layers of "Running Hot Chowder" (to create movement and flux)

• 2 Layers of Top Glaze

The "Running Hot Chowder" glaze interacts with the layers above and below it, causing colors to drift and pool in fascinating ways. No two bowls are exactly alike; each one is a frozen moment in time.

Holiday Carvings

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Christmas collection without some festive cheer. I created a limited series of hand-carved mugs that scream "cozy."

The carving adds a tactile element to the mug. You can feel the design under your fingertips as you sip your morning coffee. They are simple, classic, and full of holiday spirit.

The Crown Jewel: The Carousel Coffee Jars

Finally, I want to share the pieces I am most proud of in this entire collection.

I created a set of two coffee jars featuring horses. These were a massive technical challenge because they utilize a double-walled construction.

Here is how it works: I threw two vessels, one slightly smaller than the other. I placed the smaller vessel inside the larger one and joined them together at the top rim. Once the clay was leather-hard, I carved the horses out of the outer layer.

This reveals the wall of the inner pot behind the carving. The effect is stunning—it creates depth and shadow, making the pot look just like a spinning carousel. It was a labor of love to get the fit just right and the carving clean, but seeing them finished makes every hour worth it.

I hope these pieces bring as much joy to your home as they brought to me while making them. Thank you for following along with my pottery journey!

Regina Kutuzova

Zilant Pottery