Foarme

The double-walled Foarme porcelain offers an innovative solution to unnecessary waste in the porcelain production process.

Many things can go wrong in traditional manufacturing processes: cracks, deformations and waste are often the result. Consequently, much of the production often does not make it to be sold. In contrast, our Foarme series avoids this waste by thinking from the material itself, not just from a shape.

This unique series is sustainably designed and crafted from colored porcelain, with a gradient of colors curated by Idwert Petter. The double-walled porcelain utilizes tension lines in the shape, resulting in a strong product that always comes out of the oven as intended.

The inside of the forms is glazed, while the outside remains unglazed. The series includes espresso and coffee/tea cups, as well as a matching tray.

Looking for larger quantities or to use this product in a project? Ask for a free quotation here. On our download page, you can find 3d models, high-res images, and other product information.

Variants:
Set of 4 espresso cups, set of 4 coffee/tea cups, tray.

The cups are sold in sets of 4 colors, the tray can be ordered separately.

The Foarme products are dishwasher safe for your convenience, but we do recommend washing them by hand, especially because of the opening at the bottom. This will help you prevent dirt build-up and ensure that your products remain in optimal condition.

This way, you are assured of the long life of your products, while still having the flexibility to put them in the dishwasher when needed.

the Vij5
steps of
Foarme

Transparency of the production chain comes naturally to us.

For us, that doesn't just mean giving information about where something has been produced. Our chain starts much earlier: with the designer of the product!

We'll tell you the whole story. Click on the buttons to discover the different steps:

The Foarme porcelain was designed by Idwert Petter, a talented designer who graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2022. Idwert's commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency is an important aspect of her work. She has her own ceramics studio in part of her grandfather's farmhouse in Friesland. In addition to creating her own ceramic Design, she shares her knowledge as a teacher of ceramics.

Foarme, the Frisian word for 'formed,' was the result of Idwert's graduation project. In this project, she conducted thorough research into both desired and undesired deformations in porcelain. The process of shaping, glazing, and firing is just one part of making porcelain. Compared to other types of clay, porcelain is non-porous after firing, but during production, many errors can occur, such as cracks or deformations. A significant portion of the production doesn't make it to the sales phase.

Idwert's goal was to reduce this unnecessary waste in porcelain production by focusing not only on the shape but primarily on the material itself. She asked herself, 'What does this material need to naturally take shape and no longer be forced?' After extensive form studies, she arrived at the double-walled Foarme series of porcelain, which utilizes tension lines in the shape to create a strong structure that always comes out of the oven perfectly. This approach minimizes the tolerance of the porcelain while preserving its natural beauty.

'The world around us is changing rapidly. Many products and designs are being created, but I increasingly ask myself whether all these designs truly add value. By not only focusing on the form but also on the choice of material, we can often design more sustainably.'

For me, essence is achieved when my Design exudes a certain timelessness. By constantly experimenting and improving my Design , I can create a powerful design - something that evolves. Capturing this strength and process leads to the most beautiful products.'

Idwert Petter

Foarme has been part of the Vij5 collection since 2023. The story behind this remarkable addition began at the Graduation Show of the Design Academy, where Anieke discovered this promising project. The brilliant idea, combined with the fine design, immediately caught her attention. After a nice conversation with Idwert, a collaboration was quickly born.

Foarme is an inspiring example of how talent, vision, and innovation come together to create beautiful, handmade products. The project emphasizes not only the importance of traditional craftsmanship but also the need to dare to make adaptations for sustainability and energy efficiency. It shows that the world of design is constantly evolving, where old crafts and new ideas can coexist.

"The world of design is constantly evolving, where old crafts and new ideas can coexist."

Arjan & Anieke, Vij5

Together with Idwert, we reexamined the shapes and made a selection. But we went even further. We came up with the idea to release these creations in a beautiful gradient of colors that always come together harmoniously. We showcased a preview of the project during OBJECT Rotterdam 2023.

What truly makes Foarme special is not only the pursuit of beauty and innovation but also the focus on continuous improvement. By starting with a modest production series, we gave Idwert the opportunity to further refine and optimize her creative process. It's a journey of experimenting, learning, and evolving, and that's exactly what Foarme stands for.

"A journey of experimenting, learning, and evolving is exactly what Foarme stands for."

Arjan & Anieke, Vij5

The unique Foarme porcelain is lovingly and skillfully handcrafted in small series by Idwert Petter in her ceramics studio in Friesland. She uses specially developed plaster molds and liquid porcelain enriched with beautiful pigments. The liquid clay is carefully poured into the plaster molds and then fired in a ceramic oven.

In addition to creatively shaping porcelain, Idwert also values innovation in the firing process. Traditionally, porcelain products undergo two firings. First, they undergo a biscuit firing at lower temperatures, where the transformation from clay to ceramic occurs, making the material stronger. Then, after glazing, a second firing at higher temperatures, known as glaze firing, takes place, which in porcelain always exceeds 1220 degrees Celsius. These double firings require a considerable amount of energy, and Idwert believes there is room for improvement.

However, for the Foarme series, each product has only been in the oven once, resulting in significant energy savings of approximately 50 kWh per item. For comparison, the average person in the Netherlands consumes about 5 kWh of electricity daily.
The inside of the forms is glazed, while the outside remains unglazed.

In the material passport you can find where and by whom the different parts of this product are made.

"It's crucial that we learn from traditional crafts and respect them, but at the same time, we need to make adjustments. This way, we ensure that the material isn't needlessly depleted, and we also provide future generations of designers the opportunity to work with this wonderful material."

Idwert Petter

Would you like to see this product in real life ?

Come to our showroom in Eindhoven or visit one of our ambassadors or other points of sale.

In need of larger numbers or application in a project?

Please contact Arjan and request a quotation here.

Vij5 webshop

All Vij5 products can of course also be ordered directly from our own webshop:

Vij5
Showroom

You can visit our studio and workshop to see, feel and experience our products in real life ! We work from a characteristic company hall at the Hallenweg in Eindhoven. Most products can be seen here, but currently the showroom is in use for another large project. So please get in touch and let us know what you would like to see and we will see what is possible!

You can make an appointment for this by mail or phone.

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