Quittner is a design practice invested in the process of production. We manufacture all of our pieces in-house, sometimes with the help of local partners. The Hallie starts as porcelain slip — a mix of porcelain clay and water — and is formed in a plaster mold. It's trimmed by hand on the wheel, and set to dry. Once bone dry, it is fired for the first time. Glaze follows, then a second firing. Each firing takes a minimum of 30 hours, and the entire process of production can span more than two weeks depending on the humidity and temperature in the studio.
All of this is overseen and led by Aleah Stewart-Souris. Aleah (Associate Designer, Ceramics) is both an artist and a technician. With a background in production pottery for restaurants and years of making custom designs for hospitality interiors, Aleah knows how to finesse small details and trouble-shoot when things get...let's call it spicy.
Working in porcelain has a way of throwing curveballs, and Aleah is able to keep her cool when the temperature rises. Sometimes this means an entire kiln-load is essentially fancy-looking rubble, and yet she manages to see through the mess to find solutions.
Below, we've shared a photo-narrative of the Hallie process from liquid slip to a porcelain form to the perfect light for your home. Shop the Hallie, and explore other Quittner offerings, here.
