Written by Ashmolean Museum –

We’re delighted to be partnering with Handmade in Britain on the Handmade in Oxford
fair, taking place at Waterperry Gardens from 16–18 June, for the second year.

Handmade in Oxford offers an exciting opportunity to discover talented artists and
makers from an incredible range of disciplines. This is a particularly exciting opportunity
for us as we continue our competition to find a maker to stock in our Museum shop.

Last year saw the launch of this competition and we were delighted to announce ceramicist
Valeria Muffato as the winner. Over the past year we’ve stocked Valeria’s elegant pieces in our
shop, including a limited-edition collection inspired by our current major exhibition, Labyrinth:
Knossos, Myth &  Reality.

 

Tell us more about your creative process and what inspired your competition winning
collection…

As a landscape architect who grew up in Italy most of my memories are tied to the
Mediterranean, its nature and wilderness. The sea, the sky at night, the Venice lagoon are
represented on my ceramics through colours and subtle decorations. My architectural
background shines through when thinking of shapes. My designs aim at elegance through
simplicity. Some of my main inspirations are the Japanese aesthetic with its minimal, delicate
lines and Mediterranean traditional antique shapes that I reimagine and playfully turn into
contemporary pieces. I think my wares carry within them some of the joyful atmosphere of the
coast of Italy.

When it comes to the process, I usually start with making a mood board with images that speak
to me. I include all sorts of forms of art – from jewellery to sculptures and paintings – that I
combine with images of places from my childhood and travels around the world. Then it is all
down to lots of testing and practicing before a final design is ready.
A great deal of attention goes into the details, I mix various kinds of stoneware clays and
porcelain to achieve a personal canvas to decorate with minimal brush strokes, splashes,
vibrant colours or repeated patterns.

I do not consider myself a production potter, my studio is of small dimensions and the way I
work is more “emotional” than seeking repetitive perfection: I like to change my designs a little to
keep the work fresh for me and for those who enjoy buying my wares. For this reason even
though I make small batches, and I can make small sets of matching tablewares on request, my
pieces are to be considered unique and can be mixed and matched for a vibrant Mediterranean-
style table.

 

As the Handmade Oxford, Ashmolean Museum competition winner, your work is
currently stocked in the Museum’s shop. Could you tell us a bit about this experience…

It has been a personal joy and a meaningful achievement to be able to show and sell my
ceramics at the Museum shops. The value of my work has increased and also the amount of
pieces I make is larger than before, since the request has also become greater.
Winning this prize gave me more confidence as a small business owner and maker and it is
supporting and pushing me to achieve more.
I have recently made a special collection for the Museum inspired by Knossos, the focus of the
Ashmolean’s current major exhibition Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth & Reality. It has seen me trying
new painting and decorating techniques. It’s exciting! I am looking forward to keeping this
relationship going with the Shop team – they are the most supportive – for future exhibitions and
exploring inspiration I have not considered before in my making process.

What would you say to someone considering applying to exhibit at Handmade in Oxford
and taking part in the competition with the Ashmolean?

I enjoyed taking part in Handmade Oxford, it is brilliantly organised. It has been a learning
opportunity on many levels – being the first art show I have been part of. It can be an opportunity
to open new doors, from meeting people that work in magazines and galleries to being
surprised by winning the Ashmolean competition!
I also had fun there, I have met supportive, talented, like-minded makers that I am still in contact
with and provide me with friendship and tips.

Chloe Caspers, Buying & Visual Merchandising Manager – Ashmolean Museum

‘We are delighted to have Valeria as an Ashmolean supplier, not only to showcase her vibrant
collection in our main gift shop, but also as we have been able to collaborate with her for our
exhibition shop range, representing Labyrinth: Knossos Myth & Reality. The collection stands
out in store as a showpiece; taking inspiration from a Sir Arthur Evans’ ‘Painting of the Monkey
and Papyrus fresco from the House of the Frescos at Knossos’. Valeria has been a pleasure to
work with!  
 
Our visitors really appreciate handmade and unique products in our gift shops that support
artists and UK makers alike. We can’t wait to head back to the Handmade Oxford show again
this year to find some new great makers to work with and support as an Ashmolean supplier.’

Applications to exhibit as part of this year’s Handmade Oxford event, and to be entered in the
competition to supply the Ashmolean Shop, are open until 31 May. Visit our ‘Apply’ page to
submit your application. We can’t wait to discover our next talented maker.

You can shop Valeria’s work at the Museum or via the Ashmolean’s online shop:

https://shop.ashmolean.org/