Thames Clay Vase

A vase made from London clay excavated from 26 metres below the River Thames, handcrafted in ceramicist and artist Alison Cooke’s West Hampstead studio. Only 30 were produced. This product was created as part of Atelier100's Drop01, a collection called Made of London.

Manufacturing story

Extruding the clay into pipe components and joined by hand, the interior is sealed with a mix of reclaimed studio glazes. An expression of London both in material and shape, the vase is a nod to the vast underground network of boreholes, tubes and tunnels that keep the city connected. As all of these vases are handmade, they won’t look identical – it’s these idiosyncrasies that make them so unique.
Alison Cooke

Meet the Creative

Alison Cooke

Alison Cooke
Alison Cooke is a London-based ceramicist who creates projects, objects and installations using clay unearthed from sites of historic and geological interest during processes of mining, engineering or scientific research. Her work revolves around the layers of history below a location, with a particular focus on hidden or underground networks where histories relate to, and impact our lives today.

Meet the Creative

Alison Cooke