Who Is Julian? The Story Behind Julianware
Let's clear something up. No, Julian is not one specific sardine who somehow got very, very famous. Julian is all of the sardines. Every last one.
If you've spent any time on PetitFelts, you've probably met him without realizing it. The same little fish, over and over, showing up as a salt cellar, a catchall tray, a vase, tucked into the corner of every piece in the collection that now bears his name.
How Julian Got His Name
(Or: Why I Stopped Fighting It)
When you spend enough time making something, eventually, the thing you’re making starts telling you who they are. My first sardine had a name. So did my second. And my third. By the fourth, I gave up trying to name him something new. Sardines, without exception were Julian. Every single one.
So when it came time to build a whole collection of sardine ceramics, there was really only one option. Julianware.
The collection is comprised of a variety of handmade porcelain goods. Trays, platters, bowls, and vases that are all slip cast and hand-glazed right here in the studio in the Hudson Valley. Every piece features weird little Julian himself, front and center.
Meet the Whole Family
Julian Head Salt Cellar and Julian Tail Salt Cellar — A tiny bowl for a pinch of flaky salt, a dollop of mustard next to the charcuterie board, or whatever small thing deserves its own little dish.
Little Julian — part tray, part jewelry dish, part catchall for whatever's in your pockets by the end of the day. This is the one that lives on a nightstand or a stack of books, holding rings and loose change with equal enthusiasm. He occasionally likes to hang out in the kitchen as well. Who doesn’t?
Big Julian — the serious one, relatively speaking. Bigger, more substantial, built for food. Citrus, cheese, bread, whatever the table's calling for that day.
Julian Vase — the crown jewel of Julianware. A little school of Julians standing in a row, holding up whatever's blooming in your garden that week. Who knew sardines and flowers could be such good friends?
Why Julian, Specifically?
Combining Julian’s personality with genuinely useful objects gives the best of both worlds. Julian isn't trying to be a serious piece of tableware. He's a little funny, a little surprising the first time someone spots him at a dinner party, and legitimately useful once he's actually on your table. That's a rare combination, and it's probably why the collection kept growing the way it did. One sardine. Then a whole shelf of him.
Julian still comes in our original creamy porcelain glaze with traditional sardine colors and this year, he's also got a new look entirely that he’s excited to show you.