Vazo Market
We are a small family business located in Arlington, Virginia. Our products are hand selected by us and we only choose the most special items for our shop. On my husbands first trip to Istanbul, Turkey he fell in love with the artisanal work found in outdoor markets; colorful ceramics decorated the shops storefronts, beautiful mosaic lamps lit the streets at night, and the smell of assorted spices and coffee filled the air. He wanted to share these exquisite treasures with everyone else and that is how our business was born.
We work with a group of local artist in our art studio in Turkey who handcraft each item with precision and care, each piece is the artist own vision which makes them one of a kind artisanal goods.
Turkish art is ancient and can be traced back centuries, Turkish ceramics are known for their bright colors, as well as intricate patterns and they are special because they are beautiful as well as functional. The Turkish coffee and spice grinders have been used for many centuries and they are a staple in Turkish homes. Since they are made of brass not only are they highly decorative but they are also extremely durable.
In order to make the mosaic lamps and candleholders pieces of colored or mirrored glass are measured and cut, then the bits of glass and beads are secured in various geometric patterns and designs onto the handblown sphere. The sphere is then dried and covered in ceramic and lastly polished to reveal the intensity of the colors.
The ceramics are made by kneading and shaping the clay then placing it on a pottery wheel and are then molded to the artist liking using water and various pressure techniques to bring shape to the clay. In some cases various tools are used to shape the clay as well; after the piece is done it is hand painted using several techniques and designs.
