Meet the Founder & Owner

Mary Anne Davis founded davistudio fine porcelain in 1998, originally the commercial side of an active studio practice. Over the past 25 years, davistudio has grown as an established name in fine porcelain dinnerware, giftware and artware.

The decision to sustain the artisanal nature of the practice has led Davis to work primarily alone in the ceramic studio with help in packing and administration. “Remaining small and focusing on making personally evolved toward an ethos of mastery. The repetition of making each object that comes out of my studio has allowed my work ethic and practice to grow. I find a resonance with artisans who have come before me and I hold onto the making as an essential part of being”.  Her work is sold at fine shops and design stores nationwide. It has been featured in the New York Times, Elle Décor, Gourmet Magazine, “O” Magazine and others. 

Davis received her BFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art, her MFA from the School of Visual Arts and her PhD from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.

Watch Our Process

Our Process: Handmade & Holistic

FROM CLAY TO TABLE

Our studio in upstate New York contains a gallery, office, and a production floor lined with shelves of ceramics and plaster molds. Into these molds, we pour liquid 'slip' clay, which we fire to nearly 2200 degrees to create strong collections that withstand daily use. We bisque-fire, clean, and hand-glaze each piece before firing it again for strength.

HAND SLIP CASTING

First, we fill plaster molds with liquid 'slip' clay sourced from a local manufacturer in upstate New York. Each time, something different happens. Drips overflow, and the slip coalesces at its own pace. These ebbs and flows form the subtle variations that eventually surface on each dish.

PRECISE PLASTER MOLDS

Made from gypsum plaster, our molds give the dishes their shape. Like silt in a river, slip is a liquid swirling with solid particles. A plaster mold is porous, and the liquid slowly absorbs into its edges and drains out, as the clay inside dries and hardens.

ORGANIC ORIGINS

Our clay is made from a blend of minerals, kaolin and flint. When we release a new piece from the mold, it has an innate, organic feel that speaks to the infinite variety that occurs when clay meets the human hand.

SCULPTED & SHAPED

Using simple tools such as water and sponges, we clean the surface of every piece, refining it as we go. We usher the clay slowly through each step, intuitively bringing out the individuality of an object.

OUR HANDS TO YOURS

We use and test our objects daily. Over decades, we’ve honed the feel of a handle or the depth of a bowl. We design our dishes to be well loved and (hopefully) passed down.

DRIED FOR DURABILITY

Porcelain is notoriously difficult to work with. It undergoes many changes from liquid slip to firing and glazing. Through years of experience, we have developed a drying process that helps to protect it from future cracks and warping.

PERSONALIZED FOR YOU

We offer a range of sizes and styles, within which we personalize pieces. Options include names and phrases, as well as flora, fauna and wildlife. Made-to-order and monogrammable, our collections are truly custom.

MADE TO ORDER

A resource for art collectors and creatives, we are a bespoke studio. While we stock ready-to-ship dishes, most of our collections are made to order, in your choice of davistudio designs and glazes.

SLOW FIRED

We bisque-fire, hand-paint and glaze-fire each piece up to 2200 degrees. The slow process of drying, hand-finishing and firing results in long-lasting, luminous pieces. The high-heat kiln firing process makes porcelain one of the most durable ceramics, despite its delicate appearance. 

GLAZES THAT GLOW

Using custom white clay, we bring out the potential within porcelain. In a full spectrum of shades, our glazes achieve a purity of color rarely seen in ceramics. All davistudio glazes are certified food safe and lead free, meeting the labeling standards of proposition 65, the highest standards for ceramic glaze labeling.