Culture
Maker’s Spotlight – Jono Pandolfi
Ceramicist Jono Pandolfi at work.
Image courtesy of New Jersey Monthly
This month, we are featuring Jono Pandolfi as our special Maker. The talented ceramicist has grown his business from a one-man operation to a team of skilled artisans whose end-products are gracing the tables of some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants. The team works in a sunlit, former soap factory studio in Union City, New Jersey. Over the past seventeen years, the initial 400 square-feet of space has grown to 7,500 square-feet. Together with potters wheels and kilns, Jono Pandolfi and his team have developed a streamlined process that enables them to fulfill all the custom orders that come their way.
Talented artisans collaborate in Jono Pandolfi’s light-filled New Jersey studio.
Image courtesy of Jono Pandolfi, by Spencer Wells photography
Pandolfi was first introduced to ceramics in high school; he was fortunate to attend a school that put a lot of emphasis on “the arts.” About the process, Pandolfi says (courtesy of an interview with Abigail Abesamis Demarest for Forbes), “There was so much about the process that drew me in but in the end, I really loved the permanence of the things that we created, and that was powerful to me. I really liked making functional pottery, and I knew I wanted to keep making things.”
Detail of the Birch collection bread plate. The clay for this collection, sourced from the northeastern U.S., is lighter than their traditional dark brown shade, which means the white glaze comes out brighter, too.
Image courtesy of Jono Pandolfi
Assisting a friend with a restaurant opening was pivotal in cementing Pandolfi’s idea that restaurant owners and chefs were searching for custom ceramics. At that time, it seemed as though there was a drought in terms of providing the growing hospitality industry with interesting tabletop options. Pandolfi’s stoneware pieces, handmade and minimal in style, were what was missing! The designer loves working with chefs to create what they believe they are lacking…the extensive list of shapes and colors in the company’s repertoire enables them to come up with the perfect fit for any request.
8″ Square sided bowls in dark brown/moss from the Hospitality Pro Shop.
Image courtesy of Jono Pandolfi
The process, although streamlined, is precise. Producing the dinnerware follows a 16-step hand-forming, proprietary process. Following these self-imposed “guidelines” allows the pieces to end up with consistency and durability. Once formed, each piece is dried overnight and bisque-fired the following day. Glazing occurs after the first firing and then the piece is fired for a second time the following night. Pandolfi’s favorite step is when he opens the kiln the next morning and sees his finished products. The designer also loves seeing his wares get packed and loaded into trucks… on their way to start a life somewhere within the hospitality industry.
3.75″ Rimmed ramekins in toasted/white from the Hospitality Pro Shop.
Image courtesy of Jono Pandolfi
Pandolfi is humbled to be a part of the ceramics industry as he has always been fascinated by making functional pottery. He loves producing pieces on a “larger scale” and he takes a lot of pride in the fact that his wares are used by people who really care about the dishes they eat and serve from.
Another view of the studio – pets welcome!
Image courtesy of Jono Pandolfi, by Spencer Wells photography
We couldn’t agree more with this quote of Pandolfi’s (courtesy of Ceramic Arts Networks), “Figure out what you are good at, and go hard in that area.” Should we all be so lucky!
Visit his website for more inspiration!
