Marianne Seiz

Ceramicist

©Kati Bruder

Fine dishes for fine dinning

Marianne opened her atelier in Vienna in 1993
Her eye-catching ceramics are sought after by restaurants
She is one of few ceramicits training apprentices

Marianne and her brother loved to play in a backyard between their parents’ atelier and their flat, where they found a kind of natural sand pit - a sensual experience that lay the foundation for her wish to become a ceramicist. After graduating from vocational school for ceramics with a distinction in 1992, Marianne, at 20 years old, found another backyard where she opened her own atelier. Still working there today, her distinctive ceramic is famed and celebrated not only by private customers, but also by the Austrian and international dining scene. This is important for her: cooking, eating and drinking has always been of high importance for Marianne and she loves to create dishes that make every single meal a feast.

Interview

©Kati Bruder

©Kati Bruder

Were you trained by a master ceramicist?: I was very lucky to have the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship in Vienna - I was trained by master Harro Berger. Our profession is highly endangered, there are just a few companies in Austria offering apprenticeship places, I’m one of them.
What do you love about ceramics?: For me, being a ceramicist is the best job in the world. I’m fascinated by the interplay of the four elements fire, water, air and earth. Ceramics is one of the most archaic crafts and I always apply primal techniques to create my very special, distinctive vessels and dishes.
How would you describe your unique style?: My big love is the archaic technique of low fired ceramic. For years, I experimented with transferring the special expression and spirit of low fired ceramics to durable, high fired objects. Now, that’s the character of my two signature product series called Emilia and Emil.
Do you remember a special moment in your career?: It has always been my dream to create beautiful, durable dishes for fine dining. I had two special moments on the way to reaching this goal: the first call of a famous chef from Kitzbühel ordering tableware for his restaurant and then the day when my favourite chef from Vienna asked me for plates.

Marianne Seiz is a master artisan: she began her career in 1989 and she started teaching in 2000