Sometimes the most beautiful ideas arise from a very special occasion. For me, it was my sister's planned marriage proposal on the stunning Lake Como, at Villa del Balbianello , which exudes pure romance from the very first glance. I wanted this moment to be unforgettable not only through the setting, but also through a handmade detail that would forever connect my sister to this day: a personalized ceramic ring box.
From idea to sketch
The idea was clear in my mind: a small, elegant box that was not only functional but also told a story. So I sat down and drew a sketch to put my thoughts on paper: the shape, proportions, how the lid should sit, and how the box would feel in the hands.
The path through sound
With the sketch as a template, I began the crafting part: I rolled out my stoneware clay evenly, almost like dough, and cut the required pieces with a sharp tool. Little by little, my idea took shape.
To firmly bond the individual pieces together, a technique known in pottery as "slipping" is used. This involves roughening the clay along the edges and coating it with a clay-water mixture (the slip), which bonds the pieces like glue. I carefully joined the pieces together, wall by wall, until the small box took its shape.
Personal details that last
Before the ring box went into the kiln, I wanted to give it a very personal touch. I stamped the initials of my sister and her (now) husband on the lid—a symbol of their shared love. Inside the box, I inscribed the word "forever," which, in its simplicity, says it all.
The special magic
It was not just an object, but a symbol: for love, for the courage to say yes, and for the beginning of a new chapter in life.
After drying, the pieces were fired in the kiln—first at around 900 °C, then, after glazing, at 1250 °C. Each of these steps was exciting because only at the end does the true color and structure become apparent.
More than just a ring box
The finished ceramic ring box accompanied my sister on that unique day at Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como. For me, it remains a testament to how ceramics not only creates objects, but can also capture memories and emotions.
Since that moment, I've been making ring boxes for other couples around the world —individual, unique, and full of attention to detail. Because every engagement, every wedding, tells its own story—and sometimes it begins with a small clay box.
