Large vase Shibari

Blending Yoga and Shibari in Vase Design

The designer envisions a luxury vase blending the organic forms of the body in yoga practice with the beauty of knot art in Shibari practice.

For those unfamiliar with Shibari, the name may be intriguing, and for others, it may be perplexing. Shibari is a Japanese art that involves rope tying. Originating from Samurai practices during wars, it later spread to erotic practices.

Clément has long been interested in knot practices, which he studies in climbing and mountaineering. He sees in this art of knotting a striking aesthetic force to be associated with ceramics to create new, very high-end decorative pieces.

Vase designer luxe shibari home decor

Vase Design: Yoga Inspiration

The designer aims to steer his new creation towards an organic line inspired by the body. The knot will be there to add detail, showcasing its technical beauty. However, Clément Boutillon does not draw inspiration from Shibari for the vase design. He wishes to highlight the natural, unconstrained human curves and move away from the dominant aspect of the practice.

Instead, he draws inspiration from Yoga. This practice presents the body in countless postures, offering versatility and fluidity. Thus, the work begins. He shapes, composes, layers, and seeks how to create the right lines for this new vase. The initial sketches arrive, followed by digital sculpting. Clément sculpts, distorts, reverses, and refines. Gradually, a form emerges.

The vase is composed of two organic shapes, each different, which appear to face each other. Some see bodies, others flowers, and the designer appreciates this ambiguity. Small details on the surface bring strength to the vase, such as certain indentations that have had a considerable impact on the complexity of the mold, which is composed of six parts.

Vase designer luxe shibari bouti

The Shibari Knot

The knot of the vase holds great significance. This time, it is in the world of Shibari that the designer finds the right knot because there is no doubt that it is in this art that he could find what he is looking for. Indeed, the rope itself presents a separate work in this Japanese art form. In the books, one learns that a certain thickness of hemp rope is required. The rope then needs to be worked to remove dust, waxed, and then heated… Clément learns this process, tests it, but does not choose it because it does not bring the appropriate aesthetics to this sleek, very contemporary vase. Therefore, Clément chooses to use raw hemp rope. He partially heats it to remove some dust. Finally, he ties the ligatures at each end of the rope so that the strands do not split: the detail. As for the knot, Clément chooses a knot called… This knot features a beautiful loop facing downwards, with the two strands extending in opposite directions.

Vase designer luxe shibari bouti

The Making of the Shibari Vase by the Designer

The vase has one of the largest molds to handle. Clément pours white earthenware using a cane to reach the bottom of the vase. This operation was actually taken into account during the vase design phase. The next day, the vase is “trimmed”. It needs to be extracted from the mold while it is still as soft as leather, without deforming it, and then its shapes are cut and smoothed. It then dries for several days. After an initial firing, it is dipped in a glaze bath. It then goes through a glazing booth to add a layer of glaze, and it dries again for several days. The glaze drips need to be refined, and then the vase can undergo a second firing. The vase is ready to receive its platinum stamp, which will be fired at 650 degrees very slowly.

500,00

Technical Details:

Height: 36cm Materials: Sanded porcelain, Hemp rope binding.

Made on order

Handmade in the design studio in France, Burgundy.

2 in stock