Handcrafted Double-walled Abbey Vase - Gold Metallic
Ross Errilly Friary holds many secrets, but few are as evocative as its ancient refectory the great dining hall where Franciscan friars gathered for centuries, its smaller windows set deep into thick stone walls, letting in just enough of the Connacht light. This vase was born from those windows.
The Abbey Design Double-Wall Refectory 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 refectory's characteristic smaller windows, 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 walls and low rooflines of Ireland's great Franciscan abbey buildings. But it's the windows that make it truly special: the carved smaller arches frame fresh flowers and foliage with an intimacy that the soaring Gothic windows never could quieter, closer, more human in scale.
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 refectory window arches, stonework detail, and architectural surround
- Double-wall construction: decorative outer wall, fully functional inner vessel
- High-fired at 1200°C for exceptional strength and durability
Design Features:
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Refectory window arches: The defining feature of this piece — the smaller, more intimate arched windows of Ross Errilly's refectory, hand-carved into the outer wall. Set into thick carved stonework, they frame stems and blooms with quiet drama, giving every arrangement a sense of shelter and history.
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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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Metallic gold 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.