CMA “Clay” Collection

by Cecilie Manz

CMA is a 47-piece porcelain dinnerware collection which is manufactured in three selected ceramic workshops located in the town of Arita, Japan.

The finished set is the result of three years work, close dialogue, hundreds of hand-drawn sketches, 3D files, 2D drawings, mock-ups, 3D prints and countless porcelain prototypes. The product range is intended for both the Japanese and the European kitchen and includes assorted, stackable plates, dishes and bowls.

The design is part severe, part soft, featuring flat, deep, low and tall pieces to create a complete collection. Arita is famous for its high-quality porcelain clay, with a remarkably pure whiteness. For this collection, two porcelain clays are used, the classic chalk-white porcelain and a raw, natural gray. The set is part glazed, part unglazed.

Cecilie Manz

Cecilie Manz is a Danish designer born in 1972. After graduation from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts – The School of Design in 1997 including studies at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Cecilie Manz founded her own studio in Copenhagen in 1998. Here, Cecilie Manz works with design of industrial manufactured products and experimental prototypes and sculptural one-offs.

Recipient of the Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal 2011 (Denmark), the Bruno Mathsson Prize 2009 (Sweden), the Finn Juhl Architectural Prize 2007 (Denmark), The Crown Prince Couples Cultural Award 2014 (Denmark), Designer of the Year 2018, Maison&Objet Paris, E. Kold Christensen’s Award of Honour, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres 2019 (France), the lifelong Honourable Award from the Danish Art Foundation (Denmark), Honourable Award from the Danish National Banks Foundation 2021.

As well as 1616 / arita japan, Manz has collaborated with Duravit, Fritz Hansen, Bang & Olufsen, Fredericia Furniture, Iittala, Muuto, Nils Holger Moormann, Nikari, Georg Jensen Damask, Gloster, Actus/Nissin Moku, and others.

“My work has always revolved around simplicity, the process of working toward a pure, aesthetic and functional object”

– Cecilie Manz

MEET THE BRAND

Name: 1616 / arita japan CMA Espresso Cup
Brand: 1616 / Arita Japan
SKU: 14903
Price: 15.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

1616 / arita japan

Aritayaki, a kind of Japanese pottery, finds its roots in the ancient ceramics town of Arita located on Kyushu Island in southern Japan. It was in this town in the year 1616 that the Koreans first introduced the art of pottery to Japan. Today, Arita still produces ceramics made by local craftsmen using the distinctive ingredient of clay made from crushed stone. Inspired by the profound experience and skills of local Arita craftsmen, designer and creative director Teruhiro Yanagihara developed a new ceramics brand for the Momota–Touen Corporation.

Named after its origins, 1616 / arita japan products are produced in the same factories as the original Arita pottery but take a different design approach. 1616 / arita japan stands for contemporary products that can be used everyday, though made with the extraordinary workmanship, thinness and strength of original Arita-ware.

Teruhiro Yanagihara, the creative director of 1616 / arita japan, designed the Standard series and then invited Dutch designers Scholten & Baijings to develop their another line: Colour Porcelain. Both contributions throw new light on Japanese tradition, mixing Asian craftsmanship with European culture. While Teruhiro Yanagihara experiments with the clay and the usage of the pottery, Scholten & Baijings emphasize the dialogue between applied art and everyday use by means of colour and form.

The CMA Clay collection was released in 2022, following a 3-year collaboration with Danish designer, Cecilie Manz. The 47-piece porcelain dinnerware collection is produced in three ceramic workshops in Arita, Japan, and features a mix of flat, deep, low, and tall pieces designed for both Japanese and European kitchens. The stackable plates, dishes, and bowls are crafted from Arita’s renowned porcelain clay, using both classic chalk-white and raw natural gray. The set combines glazed and unglazed finishes for a balanced, versatile aesthetic.

View 1616 / arita japan collection