The elements of earth, water, air, and fire uniting to bring an object into existence; enjoying contemplative moments; this pure sensuality of hands in the earth; exploring the inherent character of the materials; creating forms and experimenting with colors; patient waiting intertwined with impatient anticipation, only to marvel at the magic of unpredictability and the play of alchemy when finally opening the kiln.
Terra e Mani – Ceramic Studio in Zurich
Welcome to Terra e Mani! Our ceramic studio is a place of creativity and craftsmanship, shaped by the joy of creation, a love for the material, and a deep appreciation for traditional craft.
This is where functional ceramics, ceramic lighting, and objects come to life, born from an immersive exploration of form, surface, and process. Clay is at the very center of our work. Its openness and resistance demand undivided attention and experience. With mindfulness and patience, each step builds upon the last, from shaping the form to firing, all part of a meticulous process where material, time, and craftsmanship come together.
Terra e Mani was born from the desire to create a space where exactly this form of work becomes possible.
Philosophy and Origins
Our paths to ceramics began at different points, connected by a shared joy in the material and a love for experimentation.
Conny Conny found her connection to clay early on and deepened her practice during an intensive, three-month program at the world-renowned La Meridiana ceramic school in Tuscany. This time lastingly shaped her understanding of material, form, and process. Complementing this experience, she has continuously refined her skills in various hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques under the guidance of renowned ceramicists.
Her work is driven by curiosity and the desire to explore new forms, surfaces, and creative possibilities. At the center of her practice is pushing boundaries, playing with organic shapes, textures, and glazes, and searching for techniques that give her objects depth, movement, and a distinct tactile presence.
Manuel Manuel found his way to ceramics through shared work in the studio, driven by a fascination with understanding the material's potential. His approach is heavily shaped by experimentation. Advanced training with renowned artists and daily practice on the wheel have been particularly influential, with his current focus resting on clean forms and the development of complex crystalline glazes.
Our work combines intuition and experimentation, attentiveness and patience. We view ceramics as a process that cannot be fully controlled, but rather unfolds in the making. Many pieces take months to fully reveal themselves. It is from this intentional slowness that the quality of our work grows. It leaves behind subtle, unmistakable nuances that turn every single object into a true unique piece.
Terra e Mani,
this is us
Conny Wettstein
Ton begleitet mich seit vielen Jahren. Was als Neugier begann, ist heute mein Handwerk und ein fester Teil meines Alltags.
Meine ersten Erfahrungen habe ich im Handaufbau gesammelt. Dort habe ich entdeckt, wie vielseitig Ton sein kann und wie viel Freude es macht, mit den eigenen Händen etwas entstehen zu lassen. Dieses Gefühl hat mich nicht mehr losgelassen.
Um tiefer einzutauchen, führte mich mein Weg nach Italien. An der Keramikschule La Meridiana in der Toskana verbrachte ich drei intensive Monate an der Drehscheibe. Diese Monate haben mir gezeigt, dass gutes Handwerk Zeit und Geduld braucht.
Seitdem bilde ich mich kontinuierlich weiter. Ich besuche regelmässig Dreh- und Handaufbaukurse, unter anderem bei den renommierten Künstlerinnen, Sabine Classen und Zsuzsa Füzesi. Es begeistert mich, neue Techniken kennenzulernen, andere Herangehensweisen zu erleben und dabei den eigenen Blick immer wieder zu hinterfragen. Ich schätze den Austausch mit anderen Menschen, denn jede Begegnung eröffnet neue Perspektiven.
Aus all diesen Erfahrungen und dem Wunsch, einen eigenen Ort zum arbeiten zu haben, ist Terra e Mani entstanden. Gemeinsam mit Manuel haben wir unser Atelier aufgebaut. Es ist ein Ort, an dem gearbeitet, ausprobiert, gelernt und gelacht wird. Hier entstehen Unikate. Und nicht jedes Stück gelingt so, wie man es sich vorgestellt hat, aber gerade darin steckt oft die wertvollste Erfahrung.
Diese Freude am Arbeiten mit Ton möchte ich weitergeben. In meinen Kursen geht es nicht um Perfektion. Es geht darum, das Material kennenzulernen, Vertrauen in die eigenen Hände zu entwickeln und Schritt für Schritt den eigenen Ausdruck zu finden.
Manuel Lamora
When we set up our first small studio, I had absolutely no experience with clay. Through Conny, who showed me the first movements on the wheel, a world opened up to me completely unexpectedly, one that instantly captured my imagination.
What fascinates me most about this craft is the almost infinite variety of creative possibilities, as well as the intentionally slowed-down, mindful handling of the material. My work thrives on curiosity and patience. I love pushing the boundaries of the materials and discovering unexpected beauty in the process. The alchemy of glazes, the play with colors and textures, and the constant search for new forms of expression shape my journey.
My current focus lies in the development of crystalline glazes. Creating test series, mixing and testing new recipes, and carefully documenting these processes is a deeply meaningful and grounding practice for me. Some developments span over months. It is precisely within this slowness that a special depth is born.
Crystalline glazes are a lesson in patience for me. Inside the kiln, heat and time merge into patterns that cannot be forced. Each piece becomes a snapshot of the fleeting, a quiet testament to the perfectly imperfect.
