A Modern Expression of Sri Lankan Clay
- The Cliff Weligama
- 34 minutes ago
- 1 min read
At The Cliff Weligama, clay appears across the bar in the form of mugs, ice bowls, and bottle holders. The pieces were developed exclusively for The Cliff Weligama x Mr Lyan Studio bar menu and are made by a Sri Lankan artisan based in Weligama, working with locally sourced clay and small-batch firing methods.
Clay has been part of daily life on the island for over two thousand years. Before ceramics became decorative, vessels were produced for practical reasons: storing drinking water, cooking over open fire, fermenting liquids, and keeping contents cool in a tropical climate. Unglazed earthenware was commonly used for water storage because its porosity allows slow evaporation, reducing temperature without refrigeration.
Traditional Sri Lankan clay vessels were often fired in open or low-temperature kilns, producing natural variations in colour, density, and surface texture. Iron-rich clays found along the southern coast typically yield warm, earthy tones and subtle speckling after firing. These material characteristics porosity, weight, and thermal behaviour remain inherent to clay regardless of form.
Produced locally and fired in small batches, the clayware supports an existing craft practice while reducing reliance on imported barware. Replacement is handled through the same artisan and materials, allowing the collection to remain consistent.
Within the bar at The Cliff Weligama, these clay pieces operate between function and art. Shaped by hand and guided by material knowledge rather than replication, they carry individual character while remaining part of daily service. Neither exhibited nor explained, they exist in use where craft, utility, and quiet artistic expression naturally intersect.
