You are viewing our old website
Click here to return to the new website.

Illyria Pottery

illyria 26

Illyria Pottery, Katie Coston’s pottery shop, opened in Oxford in 2013. The beautifully displayed ceramics are all handmade by Katie in her studio below the shop. She chose the name, Illyria, after the ancient province on the Balkan Peninsula. Katie responded to the lyrical quality and motion of the word, Illyria, and to the classical Greek and Shakespearean references. Katie and her husband, Micah designed the shop, and they used reclaimed materials to renovate the space. Katie’s ceramics include jewelry, functional and decorative objects, and wall installations. Her Tree Bowls, Barnacle Walls, and Speckled Bowls are some of the most sought after pieces. Illyria Pottery also sells a selection of handmade soaps, wooden spoons, and stationery. Katie occasionally teaches pottery courses, and has an internship programme at the shop.

The Shopkeeper

Katie Coston opened Illyria Pottery because she wanted to retain control over how her art, from initial concept through to display, is presented to potential buyers. Katie loves the permanent displays a shop space offers, which enable her to show how her pottery translates into people’s lives. Prior to opening Illyria Pottery, Katie taught ceramics at university. She has always been interested in natural objects and textures, and incorporates these qualities into her work. Having her own studio and shop provides Katie with the creative freedom she loves. Katie hopes that the pottery she creates “join everyday rituals, making those traditions just a bit more lovely”.

On the Future of Retail

“Our shops need to stay flexible and adapt. There’s a swing-back to authentic handmade products that are not disposable, and mass-production leaves our culture wanting. Shops like ours provide a resource for those who are on the hunt for beautiful objects made with human hands and a shopping experience that is enjoyable, aesthetically pleasing, and ethical.”

104 Walton Street, Oxford, UK

Illyria Pottery

Photographs courtesy of Katie and Micah Coston, Illyria Pottery & Stephanie Bateman Sweet, The Lifestyle Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Tina
    April 29, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Beautiful! I love your work and images. I have forwarded your site to a friend who also does beautiful ceramics. Thank you!

    • Paula Flynn
      April 30, 2016 at 8:56 am

      Thank you, Tina. Katie’s shop & pottery are lovely – thank you for sharing