Dordrecht Museum (The Netherlands)
"In Bones We Dwell and For Yours We Wait" presents a collection of porcelain pieces designed by Bruno Baietto that revive the original recipe for bone china—a type of porcelain traditionally crafted using bone as a key ingredient. Historically associated with luxury, bone china has been prized since its creation in England in the mid-18th century for its white, thin, and highly flexible nature, with its components often being of significant value. It typically includes at least 40% cow bone ash in its composition, which adds workability and gives it a recognizable milky translucent colour.
The bone material from the Dordrechts Museum's archaeological archive has been incorporated into the traditional recipe. The archaeological findings are calcined and utilized as a component to produce the porcelain. The result challenges the qualities of the original recipe, questioning the luxury status of a material built on whiteness and stability, and delivers a new porcelain material with a sandy quality and unexpected behaviour.
By transforming forgotten and unused bones into a durable material, this project aims to initiate discussions on the enduring relevance of Tussenbroek's paintings, the starting point for Bruno Baietto’s commission, and his exploration of death as a creative impulse. In the Baietto’s words the project “underscores how, throughout the 20th century, our interaction with the deceased and their remains has remained concealed yet undeniably present, especially in a post-COVID era.”