Red And White Pot

 Together with the Big White Pot, the Red White Vase has become a modern classic. Both are the end result of Hella Jongerius exploration of medieval pots. Hella Jongerius cast these two vessels from the molds of restored medieval pots. The rough casting seams, along with the potter's traditional thumbprint, give the impression of antique vessels while the strong, solid forms are clear indications of modern industry.

hight: 16 inches

width: 6.3 inches

the B-set is conspicuous for plates that can barely be stacked orderly, dishes that are not quite circular, and mugs of varying thickness. Slight deviations come unavoidable with the deliberately chosen production process. Each piece is fired in an overheated kiln to slightly warp the porcelain into uniquely distorted shapes and coincidental material effects. The imperfections give each piece of this dinnerware a unique character. The B-set by Hella Jongerius is generally considered to be an icon in the history of Dutch design.

In an industry where, since industrialization, perfection has become the norm, in this design, Hella Jongerius focuses on the concept of 'imperfection'. She studied the possibilities of restoring individuality to the serial production process, an important recurring theme in her work. During a period she spent working at the European Ceramics Work Centre in ‘s Hertogenbosch (1997) she experimented with clay by firing it at a high temperature, which distorted each piece. This is how she developed the method for producing the B-Set, in which each piece acquires its own unique character and regains its individuality.
The B-Set is now considered an icon of Dutch design history and has been included in the collections of many international museums.