COLLECTION 01: RAÚL MOURO
Raúl Mouro’s ceramics feel like expressions of the earth itself. Each vessel he creates is imbued with the natural beauty of raw materials, rich textures, and organic tones. He draws inspiration from the landscapes of his family's village in the Llamas del Mouro mountains of Asturias, Spain, where they have lived for hundreds of years.
The Mouro family has been creating ceramics in this small village for generations and examples of works by his ancestors can be found on this site dating back to the 17th century. Raúl learned the craft from his father and grandfather, both masters of “cerámica negra,” a traditional technique where the clay blackens during the firing process, producing a striking semi-gloss finish without the need of a glaze. A hallmark of their work was the water jug, a common vessel that was once used for carrying water on the backs of donkeys or mules.
Though deeply trained in these traditional forms, Raúl has evolved this craft into something entirely his own. His work, while rooted in the Mouro family legacy of making practical, enduring vessels, now blends tradition with innovation. Each piece—whether a bowl, vase, or another kind of vessel—bears a subtle nod to his ancestors while being unmistakably his own in spirit and form. He continues to work in the same buildings where his family has lived and created for centuries, holding workshops in his great-grandparents' old stone house. His great-grandfather’s carpentry tools still remain tucked in the corner of the room while the background music to his workday is a symphony of cowbells, birds and insects that drifts in through the windows.
“The turning process is a dance between the ceramicist and the piece.”
Raúl uses a palette of four earthy tones—deep rust red, soft white, varied shades of caramel, and speckled charcoal. He begins by transforming the very color of the clay itself by meticulously blending local soil into each type of clay. This process not only gives the clay its distinctive hue but also gives it a texture that is rugged and organic, as if it holds the essence of the land. Each piece tells a story that connects the Mouro family, their history, and their homeland to homes around the world.
Raúl and I worked closely to imagine a collection that encapsulates the spirit of his home—both his family’s traditional legacy of producing “cerámica negra” as well as his own unique eye and skill set that has made this tradition uniquely his own. Huella de Tierra—a collection made uniquely for The Middle—was made possible thanks to the generous hospitality of Raúl and the Mouro family, Sylvie Fiachetti’s (owner of Tado, Madrid) refined eye, and Raúl’s incredible hard work and devotion to his craft.
Whether it’s through the connection to the soil of his hometown, the care infused into every piece, or the distinctive forms that he creates, Raúl Mouro’s ceramics would bring a lasting impression of radiant warmth and elegant grace to any home that they might grace.
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