EASTLEIGH based designer and maker Sheena Bond has been commissioned by Hampshire Cultural Trust to create a range of ceramic pieces to go on sale in their museums’ shops.

The hand-crafted pieces include an initial order of 30 ceramic jam jars, which are based on a Victorian design that was excavated in northern Hampshire by Sheena’s brother-in-law.

They have been hand thrown on her potter’s wheel, then glazed with a white opaque glossy glaze. Finally they are decorated with ceramic decals that she has designed then re-fired to 800 degrees centigrade to make them dishwasher and microwave safe. Her Bird and Hampshire Hog designs feature, alongside Home Made Jam, Marmalade and Chutney. They are ideal for home-produced food, storage and are decorative pieces in their own right.

Hampshire Cultural Trust is an independent charity that aims to promote Hampshire as a “world class” cultural centre by empowering the creative economy and supporting its community. Integral to this is providing local craftspeople with the opportunity to showcase their creations and to economically thrive as a consequence.

The Victorian inspired jam jars will be on sale in four of the Trust’s venues across Hampshire: Winchester City Museum, Milestones Museum, Westbury Manor Museum and the Willis Museum.

Speaking of the opportunity to work with the Trust, Sheena said: “I'm delighted to be given the opportunity to recreate a piece of our history that others will be able to use in their own homes. I was inspired by some Victorian marmalade ones that were excavated by my brother in law Michael Bond. Paul, my husband makes marmalade every January, maintaining a tradition that has been in his family for well over 50 years. I made one for him last year to actually pour the hot marmalade into directly. We use our jars regularly and love the connection we feel with past traditions. It’s nice to be able to share this now with others.”

Katerina Kremmida, from the Innovation Lab at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said: “Sheena’s jam jars give a contemporary twist to the Victorian objects within our collection”

“We liked the style, and we liked the potential. Some of the items in our collection were excavated by Sheena’s Brother-in-law, which makes for a wonderful synergy and we’re grateful to the Arts Council England for their funding support which has made this possible.”

Sheena, who is an award winning member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, largely specialises in screen printing onto ceramic surfaces, evoking nostalgic sentiments with collaged prints of antique letters.

Her previous designs have also included a huge, crisp £20 note screen printed onto tiles, as well as distressed looking vases created with an intense firing process called Raku firing.

She runs her business from out of her studio in the Sorting Office, Eastleigh, as well as a firing studio at her home, also running workshops and 1:1 tutorials.