At Pooky, we’re a little obsessed with materials. We spend an inordinate amount of time seeking out the very best of them. Feeling, testing and experimenting, and asking: what can this material do that others can’t?
In this series, The Language of Materials, we take a closer look at the substances that shape the things we make, exploring their origins, their qualities and the long traditions of craft behind them.
Here we explore the wonderful world of ceramics, from ancient pottery to the beautifully glazed lamps that light up our homes today…
The story of ceramics is almost as old as the story of civilisation itself. This combination of earth, water and fire has been serving human beings for thousands of years, providing everything from basic cooking pots and roof and floor tiles to sculpted vessels and the finest decorative porcelain.
The work of contemporary ceramic artists such as Grayson Perry, Rachel Kneebone, Edmund de Waal and Dame Magdalene Odundo continues to reveal the versatility of this age-old material. Interior designers love the combination of colour, pattern and texture that ceramics offer; not surprisingly, ceramic lamps and shades feature strongly here at Pooky.
The ceramics tripod
The elemental ingredients of ceramics may be simple, but it’s the alchemy of the kiln that gives us three distinct types: earthenware, stoneware and porcelain.
Earthenware is the most basic, fired at a relatively low temperature (but, at 1,000-1,150°C, still pretty hot!) The result is a brittle, coarse and porous material that only becomes vitrified when coated with a glaze. It’s commonly used for terracotta planters and pots, rustic crockery and decorative items such as vases and lamps.
Stoneware, which is fired on a medium heat, is dense, heavy and robust. The higher firing temperature renders it vitrified and waterproof, making it ideal for mugs (think stripey Cornishware) and kitchen bakeware.
Made from refined kaolin clay, porcelain needs firing at an even higher temperature. This extra heat produces a hard, non-porous material with a beautifully smooth finish, often white or translucent. Ideal for the finest tea sets and tableware, it also features in bathroom fixtures and…dental implants!
A brief history of ceramics
Fire transformed the lives of our earliest ancestors, enabling them to turn soft, malleable clay, drawn from the earth, into a rigid material. Simple as these early vessels were, the human urge to decorate soon emerged; pots were embellished, incised, painted and polished.
Terracotta bricks, tiles and architectural ornamentation were used across the Middle East and in the lands that skirted the Mediterranean. Ceramic vessels were also highly valued across Asia and the Islamic world. For centuries, ceramic oil lamps provided essential lighting.
Porcelain originated in China, where it became prized for its delicacy and strength. Its intense whiteness, combined with cobalt blue decoration, created the distinctive blue and white designs that would make Chinese porcelain, hence china, so sought-after in seventeenth-century Europe.
Inevitably, European manufacturers were keen to uncover the secrets of Chinese porcelain production and began developing their own versions. These included adding bone ash to the clay, giving rise to bone china, which appeared in England in the 1740s.
Porcelain objects became showpieces, displayed in purpose-built cabinets and on mantelpieces and shelves. They could add colour, pattern and style to a room.
Different countries developed their own ceramic specialities. Italian majolica, for example, was celebrated for its richly decorated bowls, plates and vessels.
In the Netherlands, Delft tiles decorated fireplaces, floors, staircases and walls. As with so many other materials explored in this series, the Industrial Revolution meant that pottery in all its forms became much more widely available, while designers increasingly drew inspiration from historic craft skills and techniques.
This explosion of creativity extended to lighting in the form of elaborate oil lamps and candlesticks; intricately decorated ceramic lamp bases became a prominent feature of interiors. By the late 19th century, ceramics were considered essential to the fashionable home, with designers such as William de Morgan and Christopher Dresser creating dynamic and experimental pieces.
The Art Nouveau period, with its sensuous botanical curves, motifs and coloured glazes, provided a perfect platform for ceramic lighting. Decorative by day, Art Nouveau lamps also helped create an evocative atmosphere after dark.
By the turn of the century, ceramic lamp bases were being paired with a wider range of shades, including glass, textiles and eventually paper, giving designers more opportunities to experiment with colour, proportion and texture. Modernism introduced a restraining hand, of course, favouring streamlined forms and simple glazes. Scandinavian design celebrated the impact of a simple ceramic shape against a neutral, minimalist background.
Pottery studios flourished as demand grew for individually handcrafted ceramic pieces, with their subtle imperfections and distinctive character becoming part of the appeal. Irregularities and variations in glaze were celebrated rather than scorned.
Today’s ceramic lighting offers a world of possibilities, from simple rustic stoneware to highly decorative porcelain. And with each new generation of ceramicists experimenting with colour, form, firing techniques and glazes, this age-old material continues to feel fresh and exciting.
Ceramics and light – a perfect partnership
Ceramics are naturally sympathetic to soft illumination; different types of glaze create distinctive effects. Glossy glazes produce tiny highlights over an irregular surface. A matt finish absorbs light, offering a more subdued effect. Crackle glazes catch the light delicately, while the warm glow of a lamp makes richly coloured glazes appear deeper and more intense. A ceramic base provides a tactile contrast to a fabric lampshade, whether made from pleated cotton, linen or silk, creating another layer of texture.
Here are some of our fabulous ceramic bases doing just that…
Gingembre is inspired by traditional oriental ginger and spice jars, as you might guess from the name, and reworks that classic blue and white theme with modern geometric patterns. Robyn also has a blue and white glaze but there the similarity ends, as its finish is a thoroughly modern abstract doodle; each Robyn lamp base is unique.
We had a lot of fun creating artichoke-inspired Annetta: ornate, decorative, witty and finished in a simple white glaze that works almost anywhere. And with a rechargeable version available, you can even enjoy her outside or in those awkward spots where plugs are scarce.
With its distinctive leaf pattern, Stucco is also inspired by nature, but add a turquoise glaze and you have a vibrant work of art. And you would be amazed at just how long we took to decide on the shape, size and spacing of those leaves…
If you’re aiming for a simple, rustic look, you can’t go wrong with Ambrose in natural terracotta; it is based on the style of a traditional Galilean water vessel, dating back almost 3,500 years.
From ancient-inspired forms to playful contemporary designs, our ceramic table lamps come in all sorts of shapes, colours and finishes. Explore the full collection here.
But pleasing as our table lamps are, there’s even more to ceramic lighting at Pooky. Take our fabulous ceramic pendant shades, from Ted, with its delicate bobbles and lightly crackled glaze, to the beautifully unique Hania, handmade in a tiny family-run pottery in the hills of southern Poland.
And there are plenty more ceramic pendants to discover. You'll find the whole family hanging out here.
Want to discover more about the fascinating story of ceramics? We recommend The Pot Book by Edmund de Waal (2nd edition, October 2026); a survey spanning over 30,000 years, featuring more than 300 different ceramic objects.
See also:
The Language of Materials: Cotton
The Language of Materials: Brass
The Language of Materials: Paper
The Language of Materials: Rattan and cane
The Language of Materials: Linen
The Language of Materials: Glass