As with most ingenious ideas, it seems so obvious in retrospect. “How come no one has done this before? Thought of this sooner?” says Avi Abel, director of Fireclay Bath. He’s talking about California-based Fireclay Tile’s foray into fixtures that not only complement but also incorporate ceramics, marrying the material’s handcrafted character to the elemental beauty of solid brass. “Why not have a handle match the backsplash or floor? Why not have it speak the same language as tile?” he continues. “It’s practical, it makes sense—and it’s exciting.”
The company does just that in one of four new collections launching this month. Logical as the concept was, translating ceramics from flat tiles to functional, three-dimensional fixtures required the expertise Abel brought from his 25 years of experience in luxury plumbing products (“My passion is faucets,” he says), plus Fireclay vice president of brand and product Jamie Chappell’s pioneering take on the earthy, malleable matter. “Fireclay is acclaimed as a custom tile company, and now we’re bringing that same bespoke approach to plumbing,” says Abel. In keeping with the B Corp–certified brand’s commitment to sustainable craftsmanship, the lines are American-made using renewable and offset energy.
Manufacturers as well as designers, Fireclay controlled research and development, weathering trial, error and extensive testing to get the ceramics part of the equation just right. “Jamie and the team had to reformulate all the glazes, because when you’re putting a glaze on a flat tile, you don’t have to worry about it spilling over the edges or how it looks on the sides like you do with a handle,” explains Abel. They prevailed in an impressively short window of time—from idea to execution, it’s been less than a year—introducing two industry-first ceramic handles in the Foundry collection that are available in 16 colors that can be matched to Fireclay tile. “It’s a different process, it’s a different formula, but Thistle on the wall is Thistle on the handle,” says Abel, referencing the brand’s glossy lavender-gray glaze.
Running the gamut from Polished Nickel and Brass to Antique Bronze and Matte Black, 16 metallic finishes pair with the glazes. Additionally, two living finishes—Uncoated Polished Brass and French Brass—hold the promise of developing singular patinas over time, as they react to touch, oxidation and the environment. Deluxe finishes like Architectural Copper introduce industrial tones. “Partnered with the Mustard Seed Matte or Kalamata Gloss glaze, it’s got so much soul,” notes Abel. While the wow factor of ceramic handles can be found exclusively in the Foundry collection, each of the four new lines has a distinct identity, which Abel and Chappell explore below.
FOUNDRY
Metal meets clay in the signature collection of Fireclay’s new bath category. Featuring two industry-first ceramic handles cast in a choice of glazes, the line offers soft forms that are warm to the touch. Colors range from neutrals—like the speckled white of Feldspar or the pinky-beige of Sweet Pea—to dramatic hues such as Garnet and Azul and specialty treatments Graphite, a textural charcoal, and Tiger’s Eye, a burnished, ombre maroon. The pleasingly rounded Pebble knob begs to be touched, while the Groove style is distinguished by a convenient finger-sized notch.
“We set out to design fixtures that were uniquely Fireclay—pieces that speak to a love of craftsmanship and authentic materiality,” says Chappell. An experienced ceramicist, she originated both forms at the wheel in her home studio, hand-molding the shapes until she’d achieved the perfect prototypes.
“The Pebble is more of an organic form, while the Groove is structured,” says Abel. “When you feel either knob in your hand, you understand this is something special, not just because of the shape, but because of the material and the relationship of the glaze on the ceramic to the finish on the brass.” Foundry’s Barrel handle boasts the same tactile shape as the Groove, but in brass rendered in any of the 16 finishes. Accompanying lavatory, square-top and gooseneck spouts in various lengths are streamlined and elegantly curved. Complementary flanges, wall mounts, robe hooks, paper holders, towel bars, and showerheads complete the collection.
“There are so many potential combinations,” says Abel. “With 16 finishes and 16 glazes, that’s 540 combinations between your basic lavatory faucet and two-handle sink set. If you multiply by three for the three different handles in the Foundry collection, that’s math I can’t do quickly in my head, but it adds up to over 1,500 pairings.” In preorders, customers are experimenting with different color glazes for hot and cold handles, while minimalists might prefer a single large Pebble or Groove knob with a progressive valve that cycles from off to cold to warm to hot—another option. “Each looks like a sculpture,” he says. “A piece of art.”
EMERSON
In contrast to the contemporary, feel-good, organic shapes of the Foundry series, Emerson posits a fresh spin on a more timeless aesthetic. “We reimagined classic silhouettes to effect a poised presence that transcends trends,” says Chappell. The styles feel familiar, as if they’re carrying the history and endurance of past design eras into the present day—“without getting fussy,” she adds.
Picture a vertical two-handle shower mount with a single, square-edged lever on top and a clean-lined cross-shaped handle below. Finished in Polished Nickel or Chrome, the fixture recalls the spacious bathrooms of prewar apartment buildings. Matte Black or Oil Rubbed Bronze express an edgier statement against richly colored wall tile, while French Brass bestows a golden glow. Tailored touches like hexagon spouts and trim and decorative ridges give the collection a crisp geometry. “Emerson’s got more detailing, some flared pieces,” says Abel. “It’s a modern interpretation of a more traditional look.”
FLATIRON
For a strong-lined, sophisticated city feeling in any setting, the Flatiron collection delivers the goods. Its substantial brass designs make a bold impression and provide a solid foundation for a broad swath of interior styles. “It’s ‘approachable industrial,’ striking a sublime balance between soft and hard shapes,” says Chappell.
“Emphasizing Fireclay’s near-endless customization options again, you could spec this collection in any of the 16 finishes with an interplay of square, rectangular or round flanges and backplates,” adds Abel. “It offers the designer so many possibilities to mix hard and soft edges, and to consider how the impact of those combinations informs their overall project. That’s what defines Flatiron.” Highlights of the line include a crisp square shower wall mount with either a linear cross or lever handle, square towel bars and cabinet pulls, square and round robe hooks, even rain showerheads up to 12 square inches large.
CONTOUR
Inspired by water’s effortless, elegant flow, Contour is all about a graceful, curvaceous ethos that integrates seamlessly but memorably into a space. “The proportions are spot-on, and the shapes work with anything,” says Abel. Artistic and unforgettable, this transitional collection mostly eschews sharp corners, rendering its soft lever and cross handles in smooth, tubular columns instead. Flanges are streamlined yet hefty discs; backplates are flat oblongs or circles. (Occasionally a rounded right angle makes an appearance, as in the beveled turns of the robe hook, paper holder and towel bars.) “It’s a minimalist sensibility,” says Chappell. Free of embellishments, Contour’s lavatory, square-top and gooseneck faucets are as fluid as a stream, while its conical showerhead resembles a spotlight. Satin Brass finish adds a subtle suggestion of luxury to the simple forms, while Antique Nickel hints at a well-loved patina.
“In Matte Back, Contour is going to look exceptionally modern. In Polished Nickel, it will feel more traditional,” observes Abel. “It’s a beautiful collection with universal appeal that lets the accompanying tile take center stage.”
By offering bath fixtures alongside its tile, Fireclay simplifies and consolidates a common chain in the design process. “When clients are specifying the glaze of their tile, they already have an idea in mind for the finish for their fixtures, or vice versa,” says Abel. Presenting the two products together eliminates any guesswork about color compatibility while still allowing for an incredible assortment of options, since all 16 glazes and finishes can be mixed and matched across both categories. Indeed, the components of the four collections themselves are interchangeable.
“Each line provides a distinct architectural point of view, but they’re all intentionally designed to be compatible, empowering designers to tailor styles and finishes for an individual look,” says Chappell.
Such customization extends to Fireclay’s service. “We make the product and we sell the product, cutting out any middlemen, controlling the experience from manufacturing to delivery, and communicating directly with the end customer, whether that’s a designer, an architect or a homeowner,” notes Abel. “It’s all about supporting their creativity.” Based on the early fervor for the standout Pebble and Groove pieces in particular—the Foundry collection won best Bath & Spa product design and Best in Show at the just-concluded BDNY trade fair—the sky’s the limit for future ceramic styles. “We have so many ideas for new shapes and glazes to build out the Fireclay Bath program,” says Abel. “We’re just getting started.”
This story is a paid promotion and was created in partnership with Fireclay Tile.
Homepage image: Available in 16 color-rich glazes, Fireclay’s Pebble and Groove handles offer the warmth and welcoming appeal of handcrafted ceramics in functional bathroom fixtures | Courtesy of Fireclay Tile
