Edmund de Waal is a world-renowned ceramic artist and author whose passion for netsuke and provenance research has inspired many of his remarkable pottery projects.
A netsuke is a small, intricately carved Japanese sculpture that was traditionally used as a toggle to hold a small container, such as a pouch or box, to the sash of a traditional Japanese garment. De Waal inherited a collection of 264 netsukes from his great uncle, which he traced through five generations of his family in his critically acclaimed memoir "The Hare with Amber Eyes". Through his research, de Waal also discovered that the Nazis had looted some of the netsukes during World War II, which were miraculously returned to his family after the war.
De Waal's interest in netsuke and provenance research has influenced his pottery projects in a variety of ways, including his well-known "On the White Road" series. This series is a limited-edition set of four fine bone china plates designed by Edmund de Waal, created in collaboration with the V&A and Wedgwood. The design for each plate is inspired by a different object in the V&A and the V&A Wedgwood Collection, reflecting the breadth of the museum's vast collection and its relationship with the iconic Wedgwood. He often displays his white ceramics in groups or "families", with each piece relating to the others in a larger narrative. By doing so, he creates a sense of connection and continuity that echoes the way in which his family's netsuke collection was passed down through generations.
Each of de Waal's white ceramics has a story to tell, whether it is the story of the clay it was made from, the person who crafted it, or the person who owned it. De Waal's minimalistic white porcelain vessels are a testament to his incredible attention to detail and craftsmanship, and he often showcases them in groups to highlight their connections to each other and their place in a larger narrative. His ceramics are not just objects to be admired; they are objects to be experienced. They invite the viewer to touch and hold them, to feel their weight and texture, and to consider their place in the world. Through his work, de Waal demonstrates the power of art to connect us to our past and create new narratives for the future.