Pigeon Toe's stylish modern ceramics spruce up your space for spring
When Spokane-native — now Portland-based — fine artist anddesigner Lisa Jones started her handmade porcelain line, Pigeon Toe Ceramics,in 2009, her goals were to make it relatable and affordable.
“When I worked retail before the recession hit, I saw pricesballoon out of control in the art and fashion world,” she explains. “This droveme to create a line that was mostly $50 and under,” she continues.
Armed with a BFA from Portland’s Pacific Northwest Collegeof Art, Jones translated her love of clean, modern, Scandinavian design intothe organic, asymmetrical look that defines Pigeon Toe pieces.
Jones makes functional pieces for the home, garden and table, most of which are hand-thrown on the potters wheel. The line includes bowls, light fixtures, pots forplants, hanging trays, butter dishes and bud vases. Lighting fixtures and lanterns are cast from vintageMason jars. Pigeon Toe includes five collections: Askew, Earth, Patio, Raw andthe newest, Striae.
“I like people to know that every piece was made by me or mythree employees, by human hands, and has a story behind it,” says Jones. “My lineis for people who value skilled trade.”
Most of Pigeon Toe’s 30 to 40 pieces are made from whiteporcelain, with some made from dark brown stoneware. Glazed pieces come in 12lead-free colors, with a few new colors introduced each season, as well as sixleather cord options for hanging products.
The Tripods (small, $36, and large, $48), with a raw,unglazed, sanded exterior and colorfully glazed interior, are the most popularitem, and can be used to hold anything from jewelry to succulents. Theergonomic Folded Salt and Pepper Cellars ($38 for the pair), Folded Miso Bowl($26) and Dent One-Finger Mugs (from $28) add a rustic chic to the tabletop. MelodicDisc Chimes (from $28), Marsupial Pots ($48) and Scribble Planters ($52) add abeautiful modern touch to the garden.
Pigeon Toe’s porcelain light fixtures are especiallyinteresting, with their beautiful illumination. My picks are Kerr VotiveLanterns (one for $30, two for $58), which come with hand-wrapped wire forhanging; Mason Jar Pendant Lights ($108), perfect for the kitchen; and the OvalPleated Pendant Light ($128), with a tiered design on a raw, unglazed surface.
Pigeon Toe Ceramics are available at Velocity Art andDesign, Clover House, Envy and online at pigeontoeceramics.com.
Pigeon Toe's stylish modern ceramics spruce up your space for spring