Plycelain: A Modern Take on Traditional Porcelain

Yuting Chang's Award-Winning Tableware Collection Merges Craftsmanship and Mass Production

Blue-and-white ware, a classic and influential type of Chinese porcelain, has been transformed by Chang into a modern tableware collection. Plycelain, a term coined by the designer combining plywood and porcelain, is a collection of multilayered slip casting drinkware. The designer's inspiration came from the desire to find a balance between tradition and modernity, utilizing mass production techniques while preserving the spirit of craftsmanship.

The unique properties of Plycelain lie in its manufacturing process. Chang applies slip casting, a mass-production technique of ceramics, to create layers that form subtle blue lines on the cut surfaces. These lines emphasize the beautiful relationship between assembled parts, creating a contemporary version of blue and white ware. The patterns on Plycelain are composed of the cross-section of each functional component, such as mugs’ handles and saucers’ feet, unlike traditional decorative blue-and-white where embellishments are glazed on the outer surface.

The Plycelain collection includes a cup set with a big saucer, an espresso cup set with a small saucer, and a bowl. The design is understated and humble, yet with a second look, the meticulous and innovative craftsmanship is not quiet at all. The challenge in creating Plycelain was the precision and timing required for each layer of the pieces during slip casting. The assembling and fettling works before bisque firing were also crucial.

The project started in December 2017 in Chicago and was completed in 2018. The design was awarded the Golden A' Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware, and Cookware Design Award in 2021, a prestigious accolade granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. The Plycelain collection embodies extraordinary excellence and significantly impacts the world with its desirable characteristics.

Yuting Chang's Plycelain is a testament to the designer's innovative approach to design and manufacturing. By merging traditional craftsmanship with modern mass-production techniques, Chang has created a unique tableware collection that is not only functional but also a work of art. The Plycelain collection is a celebration of the beautiful relationship between tradition and modernity, craftsmanship and mass production, form and function.