Bowled Over


LOCAL CERAMICIST LAWRENCE MCRAE craves warm weather — no surprise given that he’s originally from South Africa. “Growing up in the sun,” McRae says, “you sort of miss having it all year around.” Thankfully, he’s crafted an antidote to bleak winter months: His candy-colored “Ruth” bowl, which is named for a favorite aunt, will brighten any room, especially when filled with kumquats, lemons, or other fruit. McRae uses a slightly worn knife to cut the circles that ring the rim, resulting in a finished product that’s both airy-looking and sturdy. The artist’s collection — which he imagines working in “modern, urban” settings — also includes lamps, vases, and platters.

$236, Twelve Chairs, 319 A. St., Boston, 617-701-3496, twelvechairsboston.com; Lawrence McRae Studio, 617-442-0667, lawrencemcrae.com.

Photo by Alison Gootee