Handcrafted Double-walled Abbey Vase - Gothic Window - Gold Metallic
Ross Errilly Friary holds many secrets, but few are as striking as its soaring Gothic windows, their tall pointed arches still reaching skyward after 600 years of Connacht wind and rain. This vase was born from those windows.
The Abbey Design Double-Wall Vase takes an architectural idea and makes it hold flowers. Two walls of hand-thrown stoneware nest inside one another: the outer wall carved with the Gothic arches, weathered stonework, and architectural details of Ross Errilly's ruins; the inner wall quietly holding water and stems so the piece does exactly what a vase should, while looking like nothing else on your shelf.
The distinctive wide-body silhouette echoes the sturdy round towers and chimney stacks of Ireland's great Franciscan abbeys. But it's the windows that make it truly special: the carved pointed arches frame fresh flowers and foliage like living stained glass, turning an everyday arrangement into something that feels rooted in place and history.
Key Features:
- Dimensions: 10 cm W × 14 cm H (perfect tabletop size)
- Hand thrown on a traditional potter's wheel for authentic craftsmanship
- Hand-carved Gothic window arches, stone details, and door surround
- Double-wall construction: decorative outer wall, fully functional inner vessel
- High-fired at 1200°C for exceptional strength and durability
Design Features:
- Gothic window arches: The defining feature of this piece — tall, hand-carved pointed arches replicate the elegant tracery of Ross Errilly's medieval windows. The arches frame stems and blooms in a way no ordinary vase can, giving every arrangement a sense of depth and drama.
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Double-wall architecture: The inner wall sits slightly recessed within the carved outer shell, creating visual depth between the layers. This is rare in Irish studio ceramics — a technical challenge that rewards the eye from every angle.
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Weathered stone aesthetic: Coloured porcelain slip and embedded stone textures replicate the surface of ancient abbey walls, with hand-applied underglaze adding depth, age, and character.
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Bronze glaze: The warm metallic glaze on the neck and inner wall catches the light beautifully, adding richness against the raw, textured stonework of the outer wall.
- Traditional craftsmanship: Hand-thrown, then individually carved and finished in my Oranmore studio, County Galway.
Striking on a windowsill, mantelpiece, or dining table. Beautiful with a single architectural stem or a loose foraged arrangement. A meaningful Irish gift for those drawn to medieval heritage, handmade craft, and the quieter corners of the west.
Care Instructions: Hand wash recommended to preserve the stone details.
Shipping: Carefully packaged for safe delivery throughout Ireland and internationally.