Ceramics' charm for fashion-conscious men

American menswear stores have cleared shelf space for handmade ceramics so male customers can invest in their home space

- Misty White Sidell

NEW YORK - Pricey pottery has found a new audience in young, fashion-conscious American men.

Precious earthenware is appearing on bookshelves, in curio cabinets and on the dinner tables of image-driven types with disposable income to burn.

High-end gallerists, artists and home goods boutiques say their male client base for ceramics has seen significant growth in recent years.

Men's clothing boutiques across the United States now display handmade bowls, cups and vases in a manner similar to accessories like wallets or belts - indicating that ceramics are now considered part of a well-rounded lifestyle, like the hand-loomed Japanese linen shirts and bench-made loafers that sit beside them.

This rising interest in luxury ceramics, according to the men buying them, is the by-product of changing gender norms relating to domesticity and decorating the home - a contrast to the calls by some for a return to traditional masculinity.

When Mr Landon Gerrits began collecting ceramics in his early 20s, he felt like an anomaly. But now, Mr Gerrits, who is based in San Francisco and has invested in several high-end pieces of artisanal pottery, has noticed more and more friends appreciating the earthy, tactile nature of clay products and the longevity they offer in the home. It is an art form with both function and beauty.