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New England's Finest: Winter Whites

Exquisite handcrafted ceramics in clean, soothing shades keep food and tea warm and brighten your table with berries and blooms.

by Christie Matheson

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Credit: Hornick/Rivlin

1 Simon Pearce's substantial "Brookfield" bowl ($90-$125) goes from oven to table and works for mixing, baking, or serving. Simon Pearce, Windsor, VT. 800-774-5277; simonpearce.com

2 Cara Taylor creates her porcelain "Seam Series" bottles ($16-$24) using the slip-casting process. Taylor Ceramics, Northampton, MA. etsy.com/shop/taylorceramics

3 Rob Cartelli crafts elegant yet sturdy porcelain bowls ($28 and up) in the studio at Brattleboro Clayworks. Rob Cartelli Ceramics, Brattleboro, VT. 802-249-6411; cartelliceramics.com

4 This cafe cup ($30) and soup bowl ($40) showcase the signature "Petal" pattern of design duo Michael Roseberry and Bruce Winn. Roseberry Winn Pottery & Tile, Tiverton, RI. 401-816-0010; roseberrywinn.com

5 Acclaimed ceramics artist Isabelle Abramson's striking pieces range in scope from mini berry bowl ($75) to hand-carved lattice bowl ($185) to tall, lacy porcelain vase ($775). (For more on Isabelle Abramson, see "Artisan Profile," right.) Isabelle Abramson Ceramics, Boston, MA. 617-515-2319; isabelleabramson.com

Artisan Profile: Isabelle Abramson

Isabelle Abramson is a fan of serenity. That's why the 29-year-old ceramics artist, who works in a studio in Boston's South End, is house-hunting in Vermont. "I feel really good about my neighborhood in Boston, and I needed to be in a city to get started so that I could have access to people and show my work," she says. "I also love how easy it is to get to beautiful forests and beaches from here." But now that she's achieved a certain level of success, she'd like to be more firmly rooted in a calm, natural setting. "I want to grow food and plant trees," she explains. "I really need some quiet."

The need for quiet applies to Abramson's creative work, as well. She briefly attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, but making art in the classroom didn't suit her. "I need to be in a room alone to do anything good," she says. So she changed course, went to Boston College, and became a school nurse. She found a pottery co-op down the street, and it was there that she began her private study of ceramics, learning how to work with porcelain. Today, she makes her acclaimed pieces all in white. "I can't even imagine using color," she notes. "My studio is 200 square feet. I'd be overwhelmed if I were working with color. By keeping the color part simple, I can focus on design, texture, and form." And the result is a collection of gorgeous vases, bowls, and votives that could bring a touch of serenity to any environment.