An engraved pattern, inspired by façades
This vase was born from a collaboration with Théo Heritier, a ceramist based in Lausanne, for the ELIA symposium, where his pieces were also on show. Théo shaped the form in his workshop. I then created the sgraffito decoration in the Pisoni–lab workshop.
The word comes from the Italian sgraffiare, “to scratch”. In the Engadine, this technique has adorned façades since the 16th century: patterns and mottos are engraved into the still-wet plaster. The geometric friezes that frame the corners of the houses and their windows inspired the vase’s decoration. On the ceramic, the same gesture reveals the material beneath the black surface.
This encounter gave rise to a series of three unique pieces. Two are now available. I’d be happy to welcome you to the studio to see them in person. Write to me to arrange a time.
| Note | Watertight |
| Dimensions | Height 22 cm, width 16 cm |
| Created by | Théo Heritier and Karen Pisoni |
| Categories | Objects |
| Materials | Ceramic |
| Tirage | One of a Kind |
Process
Born at the ELIA symposium
The Power of Many, HEAD – Genève, 2025
In October 2025, HEAD – Genève hosted “The Power of Many”, the 9th ELIA Leadership Symposium. It brought together 220 heads of art and design schools. The theme, the strength of the collective, shaped the whole scenography. I approached it as a work of many hands.
A call to designers brought together a selection of makers: Simone Züger, Hannah Mackaness, Laure Gremion, LeftRight and Raphaël Lutz. Each of them presented a series of vases. Every vase was both part of the scenography and a piece in its own right, available to purchase. Several were sold on site.
