Notes From Jonathan Adler
The iconic New York based potter and designer pens a letter to Liberty
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Notes From Jonathan Adler
The iconic New York based potter and designer pens a letter to Liberty
Delve into Liberty’s 150-year legacy as stylist and editor Leith Clark curates a selection of 150 pieces from Liberty’s past and present, each with their own unique story to tell. Amalgamating musing on the tales of artistry, history and modernity shared by our collective of brands, join us as we meet a selection of brands exploring the story of Liberty anew.
With his irreverent, exuberant and refined aesthetic, encompassing everything from plates to pitchers to pill-boxes: Jonathan Adler is a one off.
The New York based potter, ceramicist and designer is internationally renowned for his glamorous, exquisitely crafted, yet distinctly playful style, and has been delighting discerning design afficionados with his creations since he launched his namesake brand in 1993.
As his iconic menagerie cat prowls Liberty’s famed windows, Jonathan Adler sat down to send a note to Liberty, answering our questions on craft, creativity and his love for Liberty.
How would you describe your signature aesthetic? How did that come to be?
Three words: Modern American Glamour. Modern because I strive to make things that are modern. American because I hope to capture the optimism that I think is at the core of the American sensibility. And glamour? Glamour always.
What inspires you? What do you do when you’re searching for inspiration?
Creativity is an elusive sprite who visits whenever and wherever she wants. I just try to keep my eyes and my mind wide open.
What would you say are the most important parts of your process?
I’m a craftsperson first and foremost, so craft comes first. Materials, construction, function. Of course I want everything I make to be beautiful, but it all has to work. A teapot needs to pour tea, a sofa needs to be comfortable enough for a nap, and it all needs to have impeccable quality and unimpeachable design.
Where do you begin when you design something new?
For better or worse, it all comes from my little head. I was paddleboarding one summer at my house on Shelter Island in the Hamptons and saw a real cloud’s cloud float by. I asked myself why a cloud shaped sofa didn’t exist, and so I made one. I make what I want to make and hope the world loves it as much as I do.
Can you tell us a little about the cat design that is appearing in the Liberty windows? When did you first create this, and how does it fit into your aesthetic?
Mother Nature is the world’s best designer, and it’s always a delight and a pleasure to interpret her work. My menagerie collection has been part of my world for decades. I like to think that it is both chic and classique.
What does Liberty mean to you?
Better question is what doesn’t Liberty mean to me? It’s a casbah of fabulosity in an iconic magical Tudor building. The richness of the arts and crafts movement mixed with a global sensibility and always new, cutting-edge design.
Plus, the PRINTS! You know a Liberty print the moment you see it. The William Morris lilies. The Strawberry Thief. And they’ve stayed relevant as times have changed, no small feat!!! From the arts and crafts era to the swinging sixties to today, Liberty prints have somehow always been era-defining. It makes no sense but I guess that’s what is possible in that magical Liberty flagship store.
Do you have any memories of the store?
My husband Simon Doonan has made the Liberty print shirt his signature. Whenever we come to London we head straight to Liberty where he pores over the fabrics and buys yardage and then has them made into western style shirts in his newly purchased Liberty fabrics. Sublime. Then we head to the cafe for tea and a scone to calm down after the orgasmic freak out over those electrifying prints.
We’re celebrating 150 years of Liberty, so what are your hopes for design and artistry in the next 150 years?
My personal dream is to achieve the longevity of Liberty. And my hope is that original artists and craftspeople continue to thrive. Liberty is a store and a business, but I also see Liberty as a benefactor, that rare commercial enterprise that celebrates creativity. Here’s to 150 more years!
Jonathan Adler
Druggist Square Vase
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Jonathan Adler
Playa Coaster Set of Four
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Jonathan Adler
Vice Gilded Peace Candle
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Jonathan Adler
Druggist Pitcher
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Jonathan Adler
Brass Prozac Pill Box
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Jonathan Adler
Marcel Vase
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Jonathan Adler
Atlas Salt & Pepper Set
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Jonathan Adler
Vice Secrets Canister
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