hold by alissa coe from canada

This project is a set of dinner ware made from slip-cast stone ware and designed for the modern ritual of eating away from the table.
We began this project with an exploration into everyday domestic activities and the objects involved. Our focus was drawn to the act of eating in particular. We identified it as an area that is not only biologically essential, but culturally significant and personally meaningful. There is an abundance of objects designed for eating but we noticed that their forms have hardly changed in several hundred years. Through our research, which ranged from an investigation into the history of eating rituals and the evolution of objects for eating, to observations of contemporary behavior and objects, we gained a deeper understanding of the cultural and functional implications of the subject. We recognized that the evolution of objects for eating is connected to changes in social behavior and that although the objects haven't changed much, the way people eat has continued to evolve.
To meet the functional requirements of informal contemporary eating rituals, we created a new form. The main innovative feature of this new form is the thick section on the side of the dish for holding. This area around the side and part of the bottom of each dish is hollow, so as to insulate the hand from the hot or cold contents of the dish. This feature is achieved through a slip casting process that allows for both thick hollow and thin solid sections to be cast in one form. It is comfortable to hold, keeping the user's hand out of the food in the dish. It also creates a strong visual cue that the dish is meant to be picked up. Even the shallow dishes are quite deep, which is necessary to keep the food in the dish when it is moved around. This added depth is also helpful for scooping out food when eating with only one hand. The bottom of the dishes is smoothly contoured for the hand to hold. It is completely glazed, with no foot ring. This would be achieved by firing each dish to temperature without glaze first, then hanging each dish from the pouring hole in its bottom to be sprayed with glaze and fired again at a lower temperature. After firing, the hole would be sealed with a silicone plug.
Hold is a thoughtful extension of the evolution of eating rituals. It enhances the experience of eating away from the table. These functionally and aesthetically refined objects help to elevate the status of contemporary informal eating rituals. Hold has clear visual language and a symmetrical design that allows for ease of use by different hands. It is made to last, both in terms of material quaility and by encouraging an emotional connection with the user. Through its its visual and tactile appeal, hold draws the user close. It allows for a more personal eating experience and emphasizes the intimate pleasure of eating.
coe&waito 2004/05