Heritage Revival

As a student studying product and furniture design at London’s Kingston University, Richard Brendon focused his final year project on antique saucers. On Saturdays, as he walked to work in a pub on Portobello Road, he frequently popped into the strip’s famed antique market. As he perused the stalls, he became increasingly interested in the fact that there were so many saucers and so few teacups. “The answer is fairly simple, as teacups receive the brunt of use in comparison to saucers, over the centuries they’re more likely to break, leaving the paired saucer rather orphaned and without real purpose,” says Brendon, who delved into the history of British porcelain, which led him to Stroke-on-Trent, the center of British ceramic production for more than 300 years.

What began as the final project for his design degree evolved into the founding of Richard Brendon Studio in 2013 and the launch of his first collection, Reflect: a marriage of reflective gold and platinum teacups that mirror the exquisite patterns of orphaned antique saucers. “The Reflect collection breathes life and purpose back into these antique saucers and allowed me to work closely with the master craftspeople in Stroke-on-Trent,” says Brendon. “The experience of making Reflect a reality reinforced my passion for timeless design and heritage crafts and we have kept both of these features at the heart of the brand as we’ve expanded into glassware."

Brendon launched his first collection from his Notting Hill kitchen and while his operation has considerably expanded over the years—he now has 12 employees working out of the brand’s West London studio—the commitment to creating timeless pieces with integrity and longevity is the central component of every product he designs. The studio’s collection, London, 1650 particularly embodied these values, as it was inspired by the strikingly beautiful dark green antique bottles that were being produced in London during the 17th century. The collection was mouth-blown by master glassblower Simon Moore, who trained at the last ever London glass factory, and celebrates the rich, but little known, heritage of glassmaking in the capital.

The studio’s recent collaboration with the Victoria & Albert Museum—the world’s largest museum of applied arts, located in London—was a brilliant continuation of Reflect, Brendon’s founding collection. “I had the opportunity to dive into the V&A archives and explore their vastly incredible collection of antique saucers, handpicking four to inspire re-imagined designs,” says Brendon. “We then paired these playful and whimsical patterns with our signature Reflect teacups, bringing the collection fully into the present day whilst respecting and reflecting the past.

“We work closely with master craftspeople, shining a considered light on their work and skills, and it's that passion, passed down through generations, that truly helps to make our collections timeless and unique,” says Brendon. “We strive to make our pieces the best they can possibly be, whether it’s a mug used for that all important afternoon tea break or a Champagne flute to toast a special moment.”