Aries, Taurus, and Gemini featured in the Spring 2024 Collection
Chris recalls, "To my knowledge, the concept for these originally came from Annie Dennis and was inspired by her Pewabic archives research." As they delved into the early stages of design, Chris aimed to draw on traditional representations of the zodiac, seeking the oldest imagery he could find.
However, Chris soon discovered that historical imagery often lacked crucial elements: relatability, substantial visual interest, and uniqueness. He realized that each design needed to stand on its own, without relying on the strength of the rest of the series. He notes that “If the imagery or sculpting quality required the rest of the series to exist, or to "prop it up" by giving it context, it was unsuccessful and required more work.”
Pewabic Designer Chris Mayse sculpting one of the Zodiac series tiles in the studio
To achieve this goal, Chris decided to use Greco-Roman-inspired forms for human representation and more traditional symbolism for animal signs. He explains, "Something that was important to me was to include human figures with signs like Aquarius. I didn't want to simply show an amphora of water being poured—I wanted to show the water bearer as well." Chris held true to his guiding principles, even when considering more iconic and recognizable symbolism of signs such as Aries–– “For example, the (Aries) ram wouldn't look out of place on ancient shield decoration, but when held in the hand and on these tiles, it feels and reads like a newly-minted precious art object.”
Pewabic artist holding the Aries Tile
The sculpting process for these tiles was no easy feat, with twelve different designs to create. Chris experimented with various approaches to streamline the process, ultimately settling on designing a unique metal plate for each tile on the computer and sculpting with hard wax on top of the plate.
The attention to detail is evident in each tile, reflecting Chris's commitment to creating designs that are both historic and modern. The bas-relief sculpting style used on these tiles adds depth and texture, giving them a timeless quality reminiscent of ancient marble carvings.
Portraits of Chris and all others included in this post were taken by Detroit photographer Emily Berger
This project is a testament to the collaborative spirit at Pewabic Pottery, where shared interests, customer inquiries, and unique ideas are nurtured and developed into show-stopping creations. Product Development meetings, open to all departments, allow staff members to submit their designs, ensuring that innovative ideas like the Zodiac Series can come to fruition.
We applaud Chris for his remarkable achievement and look forward to releasing the rest of the signs in trios as we progress through the astrological calendar. Visit us in-store Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm to get a closer look at these exquisite tiles.
