Mud Australia Brings Its Heirloom-Quality Porcelain to Toronto
Mud Australia, the Sydney-based brand admired for its minimalist handcrafted porcelain homewares, is coming to Toronto. Opening October 16, the new 18.5-square-metre concept shop can be found within the walls of the Hopson Grace flagship.
A self-taught potter, Shelley Simpson started throwing clay in a small studio in Sydney in 1994 with the desire to create “timeless, functional ceramics that elevate everyday living.” From these humble beginnings, Mud Australia has grown into a globally recognized brand with an almost cult-like following. And it’s not surprising why.
Jugs and Carafes from Mud Australia
Made using Limoges porcelain – a high-quality material revered for its luminous white colour, translucency and durability – the hand-crafted pieces by Mud Australia artisans are sleek, simple and elegant. But what really sets the homewares apart is the palette of 19 expressive shades Simpson has personally designed to elevate the pieces to collectible-worthy status. Ranging in tone from milky off-white, pale blue and pastel yellow to deep rich purple, dark grey, bright red and more, the pigment is tinted to the porcelain body during the slip stage, which results in full body depth. Then, a clear glaze is applied to the interior of the piece while the exterior is left with a subtle stone-like texture that becomes smoother with use.
Round Mugs
While absolutely beautiful, Mud Australia ceramics are far from precious. Rooted in craftsmanship, slow design and sustainability, heirloom-quality tableware, dinnerware and servingware is intended for everyday use – and to be cherished for generations. It was these characteristics that first attracted the eyes of Hopson Grace co-founders Martha Grace McKimm and Andrea Hopson, who began carrying a small selection of Mud Australia pieces in their showroom in 2018. With shared values around design, environmental responsibility and enduring quality, the relationship between the three women grew and led to the opening of the Aussie brand’s first official Canadian retail space.
Small and large mixing bowls
As with other global outposts – along with multiple locations in its own country, Mud Australia has showrooms in the London, New York and Los Angeles – the concept shop at Toronto’s Hopson Grace will be appointed with a Vitsoe 606 universal shelving system, a modular and reconfigurable kit of parts originally designed by Dieter Rams in 1960. The clean lines and open display of the shelving makes an ideal showcase for the colourful porcelain objects, allowing for their full beauty to shine; the overall setup was designed by Shelley, who unpacked and placed each piece.
The Mud Australia and Hopson Grace partnership signifies an important milestone for each brand – providing a dedicated space in Canada for Mud Australia and, for Hopson Grace, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it marks a transition from intimate tableware and gift boutique into a 371-square-metre design-destination for the whole home.
Egg cups and tea cup with round saucer
The entire Mud Australia collection will be available through Hopson Grace (with shipping available nationwide), including its expansion into sculptural pendant lights and table lamps, vases, hand-cast house numbers and scented candles.
