STOKE-ON-TRENT, England–Chef, cookbook and Indian food authority Suvir Saran has collaborated with Wade Ceramics of England to create the American Masala Collection by Wade Ceramics, a new line of stylish and functional ceramic kitchenware, cutlery and tabletop products.
Launched at the International Home & Housewares Show last month, the collection is designed by Saran and partner Charlie Burd, who have drawn inspiration from the colors, textures and traditions of Saran’s native India. Saran is the author of American Masala: 125 New Classics From My Home Kitchen (2007) and Indian Home Cooking (2004).
The introductory collection includes mortar and pestle sets, ceramic knives and trivets, and will expand in the fall to include porcelain platters and dinnerware, coffee and tea service, spice grinders, and larger-sized mortar and pestle sets.
“After meeting with Wade, a reputable name for over two centuries, I realized the potential awaiting us in partnership—to create new classics, culling from old traditions in utility and design, but relating to the needs, functions and aesthetics of 21st-century life,” said Saran in a statement. “If any manufacturer could help realize this dream, I felt Wade could. And so Charlie and I set to work creating what we felt we lacked in our lives, and what we felt would add utility, comfort and beauty into experiences people share everyday.”
The porcelain mortar and pestle sets have a wider base to prevent spices and other ingredients from “popping” out of the mortar when grinding. The pestles showcase a decorative motif representative of heirloom Indian quilts; the glazed mortars come in either saffron orange or cardamom green.
The ceramic knives are available with either black or white blades. The collection, available next month, includes a 6-inch slicer, an 8-inch chef’s knife, a paring knife, a 5-inch utility and a 5.5-inch santoku. Prices range from $40 to $110.
New ceramic trivets have intricate raised details reminiscent of those found in the Mughal architecture of India’s Taj Mahal. They come in round, square and rectangular shapes, each one featuring a different design motif.