Onyx Vanity

Lily Formato

Onyx Vanity
Produced during the artist’s Funk Ceramics course at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Onyx Vanity is a small-scale, handbuilt jewelry stand designed for holding rings and other small adornments. The form consists of a flat base with a vertical backing, from which two slender columns rise at either end to accommodate rings. Crafted from a red clay body and finished in a smooth black glaze, the surface treatment provides both durability and a refined, monochromatic presence.

Food, dishwasher, and microwave safe, Onyx Vanity merges functional design with sculptural restraint. The choice of a deep black glaze over red clay creates a subtle interplay at edges and transitions, enhancing its formal clarity. While primarily conceived as a vanity accessory, the piece retains the capacity to serve as a small functional tray or as an understated tabletop sculpture, reflecting the artist’s exploration of utility within the context of experimental ceramic practice.