DESIGN.LIVE! Milan Pekař: Vases

Unique porcelain vases by Milan Pekař, captivating at first sight for their glazing, are the outcome of many years of studying specialised literature, a deep interest in chemistry and, most of all, endless hours dedicated to testing. The artist takes advantage of the properties of silver and other precious stones, as well as components conducive to crystallisation, and by tiny modifications of their composition achieves distinctive results. During controlled cooling in the furnace crystals of zinc and other compounds begin to grow under particular conditions. Although the final result can be partly influenced by the firing temperature and the cooling method, each glazing is unique and unrepeatable. Their clear and shining colours are achieved by a combination of the colourful palette of metal oxides contrasting with the sparseness of shapes with differing proportions based on simple mathematical ratios. Milan Pekař was nominated in the Designer of the Year category for a collection of his crystalline vases in the Czech Grand Design 2014 competition.