Make no bones about — Benedetta Pompili

Design, ceramics, editorials

Hello, I am Benedetta, a social designer, artist, and material researcher based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I work at the intersection of material experimentation, cultural inquiry, and environmental sensitivity. Trained in ceramics and shaped by collaborations with archaeologists, artisans, and industrial partners, I approach materials not as inert substances but as carriers of histories and forms of knowledge. Research and design become acts of learning craftsmanship, retracing tradition, and opening channels for interdisciplinary exchange.

Currently working on vuur collective, Investigating a footprint, Artes de la Tierra

Make no bones about

Material & cultural research on bone china production
2024-ongoing
Supported by Stimuleringsfonds

This project explores the history and evolution of bone china, from its invention by Thomas Frye and Edward Heylin in 1744 to its refinement by Josiah Spode in 1759. Thanks to collaborations with the Spode Archive Trust, Stoke-on-Trent City Archives, and other experts, historical recipes and letters have been uncovered, shedding light on its development.
Through archival research, factory visits, and interviews, the project has examined bone china production in both Japan and the UK. Key findings include differences in material composition—Japanese manufacturers use synthetic bone ash, while UK producers rely on natural bone ash. The visits to Stoke-on-Trent’s Wedgwood and Valentin Clays Ltd. further deepened the material research.

Bone china stock and production facilties, courtesy of Global Ceramics, Stoke on Trent, 2024.

Bottle ovens, Stoke on Trent, 2024.

Parallel to historical studies, the project is actively developing a vegan bone china alternative. With support from Susphos, a sustainable material called Phoenix Bond—derived from recycled phosphoric byproducts—is being tested. As production scales up in 2025, further experiments will refine this waste-based innovation.

Bone china production facilities, courtesy of Valentin Clays std. Stoke on Trent, 2024.

Etruria industrial museum, previous Shirley’s bone mill and ashes developer. Stoke on Trent, 2024.

For information or collaborations: info@benedettapompili.com

Font in use: Authentic Sans by Christina Janus and Desmond Wong.