The Symmetry Collection

The Symmetry Collection is a minimalist tabletop collection by the Los Angeles-based multidisciplinary design practice, Studio/ JIALUN XIONG. As the studio’s debut tableware collection, Symmetry is an exploration of exacting form and challenges the widely popularized notion that imperfection is the root of beauty. Consisting of a cup, plate, and bowl — each meticulously hand-crafted out of Jingdezhen porcelain — the tabletop pieces showcase the expertise and precision of the hands of its makers. 

Made in collaboration with artisans in Jingdezhen, China — often considered the  “Porcelain Capital” of the world — Symmetry blends an age-old traditional material with modern sensibilities. 

“Our journey to perfection with the Symmetry Collection has been both exhilarating and challenging,” says the studio’s founder, Jialun Xiong. “We have pushed the boundaries of Jingdezhen porcelain, renowned for its delicate beauty, to create a collection that embodies both tradition and modernity.”

Challenging the material’s delicate nature is no easy feat: Jingdezhen white clay is fired at extremely high temperatures, causing it to be susceptible to irregularities such as warping or cracking. As a result, six out of every ten pieces of Jingdezhen porcelain either break or explode due to the rigors of production. Yet Xiong’s Symmetry collection stands as a testament to expert craftsmanship and human-made perfection.

“We view the Symmetry Collection as an experiment,” says Xiong. “[It] reveals the fruits of our quest to achieve a delicate balance between artisanal craftsmanship and the precision akin to machine-made accuracy in our production processes.”

Available in a monochrome colorway of either black or off-white, each piece is adorned with contrasting hand-painted details — perfectly symmetrical lines, circles, and dots — placed exactly at the center of the ceramic tableware. The collection also references  Xiong’s previous works, such as “Building Blocks” or the “Half Table Lamp”, both of which emphasize the purity of linear and circular forms.

As a whole, the Symmetry Collection exemplifies Xiong’s reverence for traditional techniques and willingness to reimagine them for the present.

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