More about Twisted Double-Louis Tureen, 2016
'The title of this piece refers to the double L mark which the Sèvres manufactory introduced in 1751. It is a mark that has been copied by many ceramic manufacturers in an attempt to cash in on the popularity and status of Sèvres. Porcelain was much sought after, regarded by some as ‘white gold’. The first porcelain to be seen in Europe was imported from China and was collected by the aristocracy as it was much more refined and delicate than the mostly earthenware pottery produced in Europe around that time.
Many attempts were made to copy the Chinese porcelain, success finally being achieved in strict secrecy by Johann Böttger at the behest of Augustus the Strong. Other European manufacturers tried to steal the recipe, in the process formulating clay bodies, such as the ‘soft-paste porcelain’ that Sèvres employed up until the 1760’s, when deposits of the vital ingredient, china clay were found near Limoges. It is a fascinating story of passion, intrigue and much hard work, all focused on the creation of an object that had acquired an almost mystical status.
The piece that I have created has focused on the ‘Double’Louis’ mark as a symbol of this story, and in doing so am employing new materials and technology in an attempt to create something unique that were previously impossible to manufacture.
I spent many hours creating numerous iterations of the design using Rhino 3D CAD software.
Once satisfied with the design on screen, the data was sent to a bureau specialising in Additive Manufacturing and the piece was manufactured using the latest Selective Laser Sintering technology. It was then hand finished.'
- Michael Eden 2017 More Works for Sale
