Design | Marcel Wanders’ Delft Blue + Cobalt Blue Fusion, ‘Blue Ming’

ÍLHAVO, Portugal — Drawing inspiration from Dutch Delft Blue and Portuguese Cobalt Blue ceramics and tracing their shared lineage back to Chinese Ming Dynasty porcelain, product and interior designer Marcel Wanders’ has created his ‘Blue Ming’ collection of table ware and decorative objects for Portuguese design and luxury brand Vista Alegre.

According to Wanders Design Studio, through this shared history and heritage, ‘Blue Ming’ forges a new language of contemporary artistic expression which harmoniously (and beautifully) melds tradition and modernity.

“With this collection, we bring culture to functionality. Each piece has a purpose and with the Delft Blue design they have meaning that connects to eras past. The artistry of tradition in these pieces is timeless.”  —Wanders

The collection includes a big tea cup and saucer, an espresso cup and saucer, a tea pot and sugar pot, a fruit bowl, soup terrine, a range of plates, and an iconic candleholder and flower vase. You can view the entire collection here.

“These unique pieces are not merely to be placed on display in a cabinet, but rather to be used to make mealtime a special event. They are tangible items that are as versatile as they are durable.”  —Gabriele Chiave, Wanders Design Studio

‘Blue Ming’ was a German Design Award nominee.

Vista Alegre has been able to harmoniously combine tradition and modernity, and remain attuned to cultural trends. Spreading Portuguese culture worldwide, Vista Alegre products reflect the most recent design trends and are manufactured according to the highest quality and functionality standards, states the company.

Do you love or loathe these works from the worlds of contemporary ceramic art and contemporary ceramics? Let us know in the comments.