Design your own crockery

When VISI invited our readers to submit designs for their own personalised dinner service, we had no idea how difficult it would be to choose a winner. However it was Marion Allen’s designs inspired by vintage postcards and birds in her garden that caught the judges’ eye.

“The exquisitely unique hand-drawn elements and subtle introduction of background depth made the design stand out among the rest,” says ceramicist Mervyn Gers, who judged the entries along with our content director Sumien Brink. “We thought it was the most successful design for a ceramics dinner set. The two-colour designs gave it simplicity while maintaining sophistication.”

In making the 76-piece R30 000 dinner service a reality, Marion shared the bird sketches, fabric patterns and folded paper elements of her design with Mervyn’s studio. The studio team set about finding a design application for each piece. Ceramic ink decals of the design were printed and then refired onto the crockery.

“It has been a fantastic success,” says Mervyn. “Everyone who has seen the final result of this project wants to know if we are going to extend the dinner service into a range for sale to more clients.”

Understandably, Marion is thrilled and already planning a big “come and see my plates” lunch for her friends. An interior designer by trade, Marion says she loves ceramics but is not yet ready to give up her day job.

Mervyn Gers Collective 021 510 2385, mervyngers.com