Design Porn: Richard Brendon

I'm having a mega design crush on Richard Brendon's new Reflect range today. Actually, I've been crushing for the last few days - I've been writing about his work as part of my day job for the new CultureLabel website (launching tomorrow, eager design beavers). I've always been impressed with Richard's ceramics, but this is his most beautiful work to date.

I should give you fair warning: I'm quite excited about the saucers. I've never been this excited about saucers before. Y'see, some of the saucers in the Reflect range date back to the 1750s, so every piece is one of a kind. Yep, we're talking mega old, limited edition saucers. Probably owned by an awesome old lady in a fabulous hat. In my head, Maggie Smith is being a bitch to some little upstart. Pretty evocative, these saucers.

Richard then uses these saucers as inspiration for the matching cups. The matching design is reflected in the cups, using brilliant and magic reflective paint.

The finishing touch to these already brilliant old-meets-new design is in the handle. Each cup handle is dipped in gold or platinum, so the antique saucer pattern is reflected through every part of the design.

These are gorgeous, gorgeous designs. It's not often I'll suggest you go and spend seventy quid on a cup and saucer but the work that Richard has put into every part of these pieces makes them very special indeed.