This plate was wood fired in an anagama kiln in California. It has natural ash glaze only, developed in a 3 day-long firing. The patterns were born during the process thanks to the tumble stacking method and the position in the kiln. This special, painterly piece became the cover of Julia’s book about wood-fired ceramics, a pioneering book on the topic in Hungary.
Height 2.5 cm
Diameter 19.5 cm
©Akos Czigany
©Akos Czigany
©László Mudra
©Akos Czigany
©Akos Czigany
Júlia Néma
- Ceramicist
- Budapest, Hungary
- Master Artisan
- Recommended by Judit Osvárt
Contact
Hungarian, English
Address:
Üllői út 200, 1191 Budapest, Hungary
Üllői út 200, 1191 Budapest, Hungary
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+36 205750310
+36 205750310
©Akos Czigany
The pottery pioneer
- • Júlia's tableware is used in Michelin starred restaurants
- • Her workshop has a high temperature wood-fired kiln
- • She was awarded the Noémi Ferenczy Prize
Although art has been a part of Júlia Néma's life since childhood, she studied humanities after graduating from high school. It was then that it became clear to her that she wanted something literally tangible as a profession: she realised that those were always the most memorable periods of her life when she was creating something, and that if she was not creating, the lack of artistic activity was almost painful for her. She obtained a degree in ceramic design and then a doctorate in 2012, since then she has also been active as a university lecturer. To this day, she loves every aspect of her work: from wedging (or even mining) the clay to continuously feeding the kiln with wood. Although she has been working with ceramics since the early 1990s and launched her own brand in 2010, the real breakthrough in her career came in 2012: she built her own wood-fired kiln with her master, Frederick L. Olsen. Today, she cultivates and creates autonomous works and architectural ceramics too, but her best-known pieces are her wood-fired bowls and plates made for the best restaurants in Budapest: Olimpia, Babel, Salt and Laurel.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: ©Akos Czigany
Ash glaze plate
Photo: ©Akos Czigany
Trio of tableware
This contrasting black & white set combines stoneware and porcelain dishes, characterized by rough and delicate textures strengthening each other. In the central bowl, the soft greenish white glazing effects were achieved during the firing process.
Height 3.5 cm
Diameter 14.5 cm
Height 2.5 cm
Diameter 20.5 cm
Height 1.5 cm
Diameter 28 cm
Photo: ©Akos Czigany
Shaped canvas plates
To create these irregular, square stoneware plates, Julia used her own exclusive clay mined in Hungary. The colour palette harmoniously combines warm and cool tones with black and white unglazed surfaces. The clay beautifully reacted to wood firing, catching the traces of flames.
Length 21 cm
Width 21 cm
Height 1.5 cm
Length 19.3 cm
Width 19.3 cm
Height 2.8 cm
Length 19 cm
Width 19 cm
Height 2.7 cm
Photo: ©Árpád Pintér
Hat bowl
This bowl with Acacia ash glaze on its rim forms part of a larger series developed with different ashes collected from several fireplaces. The collection was designed and manufactured in 2011 for the Olimpia Restaurant in Budapest and inspired a radical change in plating among innovative chefs.
Height 6 cm
Diameter 23 cm
Photo: ©Árpád Pintér
Small Hat bowl
The Hat bowl, made from wood fired stoneware, is complimented by a black rim with ash spots providing an elegant frame for the food. It contrasts elegantly with the light yellow central part. The bowl was designed for the book of a successful pastry-cook.
Height 5 cm
Diameter 21 cm
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