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17-25 October 2026

Future Unearthed

From fragment to form

Hosted by Lotte Douwes

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This project is part of
EX SITU - Matter in Translation
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Entrance fee

DDW ticket required

Accessibility

Free wifi available
Toilets available
Fully wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair friendly toilet available

Opening hours

11:00
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18:00
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Future Unearthed - From Fragment to Form
Future Unearthed - From Fragment to Form
Meaningful Matter
Unearthed treasures - shards of Roman sigillata and later finds - are drawn into a line stretching from past to present to future designs, giving new meaning to this timeless craft.

Through EX_SITU — Matter in Translation, I have the unique opportunity to use deaccessioned archaeological ceramic finds as raw material for new work.

The project begins with a close study of the material. Drawing on available historical knowledge, I investigate the original forms, making techniques and contexts of use. Not every shard comes with a known history. Together with heritage specialists, I therefore explore what the material itself can still reveal about the object it once belonged to.

These insights form the starting point for new designs. Historical forms offer new ways to reconsider proportion, function and material use. During Dutch Design Week, the first melting tests and material samples from this research will be on view. These will be further developed into a series of objects that build on and refer back to the material’s original history.

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Come to Dutch Design Week and make this project part of your visit.

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Material Diversity
Material Diversity
Meaningful Matter
Material sample
Material sample
Meaningful Matter
Material Diversity applied
Material Diversity applied
Meaningful Matter

By

Lotte Douwes

Hosted by

Marisa Klaster / René Isarin
info@meaningfulmatter.nl
0622337638
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About Lotte Douwes

Meaningful Matter is a Rotterdam-based sustainable ceramics studio at the intersection of design, production and material innovation. We transform the traditional, linear ceramics industry into a circular, local and socially inclusive process.

Colofon

sample assistant Georgia Stevenson