Antiques bear the traces of many decades, sometimes centuries. They tell stories of use, of hands that have held them and eyes that have looked at them. Factory seconds are their counterparts. Never used, without the slightest signs of wear - and yet already damaged. A crack, a split, a splinter, not from long use, but from a single moment in the manufacturing process. A first flaw that is also the beginning of a new story.
What are factory seconds?
Factory seconds, also known as "seconds", include ceramics and porcelain pieces that have been damaged during production or transport. Often these are small defects that make the piece usable - a tiny glaze defect, a barely visible bump. Such pieces often find their way into discounted sales. But if the damage is too great, especially if the piece is broken, it is usually thrown away.
Particularly annoying is a break that occurs during the glaze firing - the last step in a long process. The piece was designed, formed from clay, bisqued, glazed and put in the kiln. Everything went according to plan until this one firing fails to hold the structure, weakens the material or causes it to crack. For ceramicists, this is a bitter loss because all the previous work is lost.
A second chance for damaged pieces
The meiko collection gives these pieces a special value. Where Kintsugi gives a piece that has actually reached the end of its journey a second existence, here this transition is consciously integrated into the creative process. The cracks and fractures created during glaze firing tell the story of this transition.
For the ceramists, this means a fair collaboration: they receive the full price for their finished product, just as if it had remained intact. I charge extra for the repair costs. This creates a balance between craftsmanship and artistic restoration.
The artists behind meiko
The objects come from ceramicists who develop their own, distinctive style in their work.
Feier Wang ( feierwang.com ) – Her works combine delicate structures with archaic simplicity. She experiments with textures and glazes to reinterpret traditional forms.
The pieces by Feier Wang are currently on display for sale at Nihon Mono at Potsdamer Straße 93 in Berlin-Schöneberg
Ennio Nobili ( en-ceramica.com ) – His ceramics are characterized by sculptural forms and subtle color gradients. He often works with reduced tones and organic lines that give his pieces a meditative quality.
Another piece by Ennio Nobili is currently in the works and will be available for sale from May.
Heike Bischof ( atelieramchamissoplatz.de ) – Her work is characterized by a fine balance between functionality and aesthetics. She creates objects that can be used in everyday life as well as works of art. Working with her adds a new, exciting perspective to the meiko collection.
The first pieces by Heike Bischof will be available for sale from May.
Each of these pieces bears a trace of imperfection that is transformed in the Kintsugi repair. A moment of rupture that marks not the end, but the beginning of a new journey of life.
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