Cone 4 Vase

The cone is the most honest shape in decorative pottery. A clean taper between foot and rim, nothing bolted on, nothing to distract from the profile itself, which means the form either works or it doesn't. This is the fourth variation on that theme, and the number in the name marks it out as one of a family rather than a one-off; print two or three and the resemblance between them does the styling for you. It belongs on a windowsill, a mantelpiece or a hall table, holding dried stems, bleached grasses, pampas or a bundle of eucalyptus. Left empty it still reads as a piece of sculpture, which is the usual test of whether a vase shape is any good. Sensible for anyone building a shelf of quiet geometric objects.