Jill Rosenwald’s Freer House Collection Sweetens the Pot

Photos courtesy of Jill Rosenwald

There’s something about soft shades of reds and blues that never fail to please the eye—not because they’re customarily patriotic, but because they simply go together. So, it’s no wonder people have admired porcelain delicately trimmed with blue-and-white toile designs for centuries.

The Freer House collection by ceramicist and designer Jill Rosenwald is a creative twist on the traditional china pattern. It takes the elegance of the iconic vases and plates and blends them with hand-drawn depictions of them, creating an entirely new way to appreciate the dishware.

Described as an update to grandma’s china collection, the pattern exudes antique charm. The pieces were inspired by a visit to the Freer and Sackler Galleries at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Inside the Freer Gallery—where the collection gets its name—there’s an exhibit called the Peacock Room. It features decorative mural art by James McNeill Whistler, and it’s brimming with porcelain.

“(The Peacock Room) houses an extraordinary collection of porcelain chinoiserie,” says Rosenwald. “The space is magnificent and jaw-dropping. I love it.”

The delicate beauty of the china found in the Freer Gallery has been transformed into letter trays, planters, bowls, and caviar trays. They range in size and price, and can be found in Rosenwald’s Fort Point studio.

The Freer House collection at Jill Rosenwald Studio, 369 Congress Street, jillrosenwald.com.