Bespoke tableware for domestic and commercial use
Paul Mossman creates bespoke tableware for domestic and commercial use. The tableware is hand thrown using traditional methods. Paul’s tableware has graced the tables of some of the finest restaurant tables notably Simon Rogan’s L’enclume.
Paul was delighted to be asked to create a golden apple for Adam Reid’s dessert at this year’s Great British Menu competition, and was even more delighted when the dish got perfect tens from the judges and was carried through to the final banquet. He strives to reflect the style and innovation of the chefs he works for, trying to be at the forefront rather than following trends.
Top chefs and designer ceramics
Chefs can no longer acquire 40, 80 or 120 place settings for individual restaurants after the specialist factories in Stoke-on Trent closed. The new factories require runs of 15,000 – 20,000 of the sam item in the same colour. So if we multiply a tasting menu of 18 courses by these numbers, each with their own shape and colours of dish, no factory wants to know. At the same time, many small amateur potters equally do not have the skills to complete the 40, 80 or 120 piece sets, so we end up with a bizarre imbalance.
The booming white minimalist period of design at the start of the millennium has also led to the amazing resurgence of designer ceramics, wood carving and glass blowing which are unique and different.
And remember how dire British food was in the 1970s? Ruth Rodgers at River Cafe and Terence Conran transformed the industry, looking to Spain and France for inspiration. Now we lead Europe and the world in innovative food from inspiring chefs using British produce. And in turn, chefs are more interested in innovative ceramics. As the food market has become more sophisticated the tableware has developed to reflect this and must enhance the individuality and creativity of each chef.
Stoneware in the kitchen
Paul Mossman’s tableware is is vitrified, more commonly known as stoneware, making it oven, Aga, dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe. The pots and glazes are completely lead-free.
Distinctly different tableware
The bespoke tableware is as distinctly different as it is traditional. Drawing inspiration from the British countryside has meant the style and character of his pottery has both an earthy, geological feel and at the same time is unique and artistic.
Paul enjoys sourcing different materials to add to his glazes. Those provided by a ceramic industrial chemist he works very closely with are pure and therefore consistent, but Paul can then tweak and change the final mix to make it unique and more difficult to copy – and more interesting. Paul produces these different looks using diverse local ingredients – in a way just as the chefs he works with forage for local food. These ‘impurities’ can help to make the glaze unique, and that is all part of the experimentation and artistry that Paul uses. As he says,ceramics are science and art combined in a very unique way.
Paul Mossman has a range of standard designs and glazes from which he starts. These are of course available to order should you be taken by a particular range. However, if you are searching for something different than Paul will develop something just for you. Over the years Paul has created almost every type of domestic kitchen pot and plate imaginable. These include all types of plates, bowls, salt pots, teapots, casseroles and so on. He has created drinking vessels including ceramic wine goblets and beer mugs. If it can be eaten off or drunk from Paul has probably made it.
