Behind the Limited Edition Candle Set by Fallow Clay's Founder, Helena Coan

28 November 2024 /

Fallow Clay

The word ‘fallow’ is most often used to describe land that’s left for a period of time without being sown or cultivated in order to restore itself. I am foremost a filmmaker, and after several years of non-stop work directing films I made a conscious decision to let myself be fallow, to say no to new work for a while, and to allow myself to rest and restore. It was during this period that I discovered ceramics, fell in love with the craft, and started my own ceramics brand, Fallow Clay.

Clay is a finite resource, and sustainability is essential to me, so I predominantly make my ceramics out of reclaimed clay - repurposed clay that would otherwise go to waste. When I make something that doesn’t go as planned, maybe the piece cracks or warps or just falls apart on the wheel, instead of just throwing it away, I recycle the clay. By recycling and reusing clay, I limit the amount of impact I have on the environment and my process becomes cyclical - I’m sourcing the clay from myself, and from my small community of ceramicists at Stable Yard Pottery in North London, rather than relying on an unknown external source.

I also love using reclaimed clay because it’s often a mixture of a number of different types of clay, so the final results can vary from piece to piece. The most special and beautiful thing about handmade ceramics is their uniqueness - no two pieces can be exactly the same. I’ve never wanted to make sets of ceramics that all look identical. We live in a world where mass production and homogenised design has become part of our everyday lives, and I’ve always tried to steer clear of this in my work, and embrace the unpredictability of this art form.

When the the company formerly known as Haeckels and I were discussing a potential collaboration, I really loved the idea of using reclaimed clay to create something that could itself then be reused infinite times. These candle holders are both functional items and art pieces. Once the candle wax has burnt away, the pot can be cleaned and reused as something else - a miniature plant pot, a jewellery holder, a vase, a tealight holder, or it can just be left as it is, as a one-off piece of handmade art.

"We pushed the idea of reusing materials further by incorporating repurposed seaweed into the signature glazes, and each design draws inspiration from the landscapes associated with each scent. The St John candle design is intended to blend into its natural environment through a combination of exposed raw clay and earth-toned seaweed glaze. For the Pluviophile candle design I used a glossy black glaze that reminded me of the reflective nature of rain, and the Botany candle is inspired by the cliff faces of Botany Bay, with a rugged texture and a gradient of seaweed glaze."

Helena Coan

From left to right: St. John, Pluviophile, and Botany candles

Each candle holder was individually thrown on the pottery wheel before being trimmed, stamped and glazed by hand. I carried out each part of the creation by myself, hundreds of times. Repeating the same process just over six hundred times was a meditative, challenging and joyful experience and I hope the love, care and patience I poured into each one can be felt.

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Words by Helena Coan, founder of Fallow Clay