Prehistoric structures demonstrate a design language that transcends place and time. Made from naturally occurring materials such as wood, sand, and stone, ancient objects capture a moment in history, often presented through pared-down, thought-provoking forms. So when artist Vince Skelly began looking for a medium that shared the nuanced, timeless quality of his wood sculptures, he chose clay—and used it to reimagine one his most iconic pieces in a new limited-edition series, called the Earth Stools.

Each piece was slip-cast in a mold that was made from Skelly’s Tide Stool (2019), a seat, carved from sweet gum, with an irregular leg that later became a signature of his designs. Like Skelly’s sculptures, the porcelain Earth Stools were crafted entirely by hand in Portland, Oregon, and celebrate the distinctive character of wood: up close, rings, lines, and cracks abound, creating an authentic and tactile reference to the original stool. 

Available in three colors—white, sage, terra-cotta, and peach—the collection invites viewers to consider a time-honored material though a different lens, while nodding toward Skelly’s ambition to apply his vision to a wide range of art forms as a means to evolve and enhance his creative practice.