Not long ago, porcelain, glass and ceramics were almost exclusively used to make ostentatious objects best suited for display in grandmother’s cabinet. But now these classic materials are experiencing a renaissance. Today, they are increasingly being utilised in playful ways by a new wave of designers and artists, who are inspired by Modernism’s clear forms as well as an ironic depiction of figures, kitsch and the Romantic. Armed with these influences and an expanded repertoire of forms made possible by technological developments such as rapid prototyping, these designers and artists are manifesting their creative visions in unconventional objects made of these fragile materials.

Fragiles is an eclectic collection of such contemporary work. This book presents industrial applications made from porcelain, glass and ceramics such as the exclusive, futuristic tableware now in use in avant-garde restaurants around the world. It also features artistic glass objects by Arne Quinze and Jerszy Seymour as well as striking porcelain products by Jurgen Bey, Marcel Wanders and Jaime Hayon. In addition to these projects by renowned creatives, Fragiles also contains an exciting selection of recent cutting-edge work by emerging talents.

The examples shown in Fragiles range from the experimental to evocative retro-inspired reinterpretations. The spectrum and quality of these innovative projects shows a current generation of designers and artists just how relevant and challenging working with these traditional materials can be.