PHILOSOPHY

The crucial design principle of our ceramics is minimalism. A minimalistic design is clear and simple - like the beauty of nature, which has no superfluous parts. Everything holds its assigned position and has a particular meaning. We envision the world as a place where people take only what they truly need. Not a single feather more.

Our bodies of work are embraced by the simplicity of nature. We are not trying to imitate nature, but to incorporate its features and patterns into our design thinking. Sometimes this connection is not immediately visible but be sure it is always there and if you take a closer look (or touch!) you will experience it.

This leads to two more important principles of our work. Sustainability and mindfulness. Our products are items for the every-day use but made with elegance and devotion. Every cup, every plate is hand-made and has a personal journey. We think beauty lies in ordinary things. Our mission is to bring mindfulness and feelings of aesthetic joy into daily life. This is a strong contrast to the throw-away society which is all about gaining ten thousand things in the short term without being aware of them. A good piece of clay brings you down to earth and remembers you to live and embrace the moment. One cup is enough - or maybe two :)

We work with colors that are gentle for the eyes, with monochromatic schemes and natural shades. The shapes and patterns are simplistic but full of little details. We love to play with different surface qualities. Sometimes they are rough, sometimes smooth, depending on the story of each design. It is important for us that our objects also carry a tactile message that was deliberately chosen, because we think the sense of touch is the gate to our emotions.

Mana keramika is hand-made, simple and minimal. Our products incorporate natural features and shift the attention to the moment by very gentle tactile and visual hints.

HISTORY

We are a ceramic company of two people. A family business. Urška Bavčar and Silvano Kobald. Urška is a studied architect who has been developing her ceramic skills since 2018 when she opened her first ceramic studio and co-established the brand kolektiv DVA. This brand became a flourishing business and was also regarded by world-class chefs and reviews in prominent magazines.

As nice as it is to work in a collective, but at a certain stage the boundary of a collaboration shreds the development of individual mastery. The life cycle of kolektiv DVA came to an end to make place for new creation. Hence, Urška decided in 2022 to step up and continue her ceramic success story with a new brand that incorporates a well selected set of ethical values, design principles and philosophical foundations she truly believes in. On her side is Silvano Kobald – her beloved partner – who is translating the language of the clay into words of poetry and also set the company’s visionary footprints in the clay. This was a short story about us. Mana Keramika.