Ancré Ember & Ash Vessel
Ancré Ember & Ash Vessel
Hand-formed Trinidad wild clay · Pit fired
Ancré is an earthen vessel made for the quiet remains of fire.
Its name comes from Piedmontese, the regional language of Piemonte in northwestern Italy, where ancré means “to anchor.” We chose it for the role the object performs: a place where ember, ash, and smoldering material can come to rest.
There is another meeting held within the name. Ancré carries a trace of Piedmont into an object formed from Trinidad earth, bringing two places that have shaped Nadi Sangama into a single piece.
Each vessel begins with wild clay gathered locally in Trinidad, processed in small batches, and formed individually by hand in Studio Nadi Sangama. The piece is then pit fired, allowing smoke, heat, ash, and the conditions of the fire to leave their own record across the clay.
Made to hold incense ash, a smoldering piece of palo santo or other burning wood, or the remnants of a small ritual, Ancré is intentionally simple in form. Its purpose is to receive what the flame leaves behind.
No two emerge exactly alike.
Approx. dimensions: [W × L × H]
Approx. weight: [final weight]
Made in Studio Nadi Sangama Trinidad & Tobago
WILD TRINIDAD CLAY
Locally foraged
HAND FORMED
Made individually in Studio Nadi Sangama
PIT FIRED
Marked naturally by smoke and fire
ONE OF A KIND
No two surfaces or forms are identical
MADE FOR EMBER + ASH
For incense and smoldering wood
MADE IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
From earth to finished object
Material & Making
Ancré begins with wild clay gathered locally in Trinidad.
The clay is processed in small batches in Studio Nadi Sangama before each dish is shaped individually by hand. Its natural grit, mineral variation, and movement beneath the fingers remain part of the surface rather than being concealed.
Once dry, the pieces are pit fired.
In the fire, smoke, ash, heat, and atmosphere alter the clay in ways that cannot be fully controlled. A surface may deepen in one place, remain warmer in another, or carry traces of smoke and mineral through the finished colour.
These markings are not applied after firing.
They are the record of the making itself.
Use
Ancré was made as a resting place for ember and ash.
Use it beneath burning incense, for the ash of botanical sticks, or to receive a smoldering piece of palo santo or other aromatic wood after the flame has been extinguished.
Its shallow form keeps the material visible while giving falling ash and ember a defined place to settle.
Always place Ancré on a stable, non-combustible surface when using it with burning or smoldering material. Never leave an ember unattended, and allow both the dish and its contents to cool completely before handling or disposing of ash.
Character & Variation
Wild clay and pit firing resist exact repetition.
The shape, edge, tone, mineral texture, smoke marking, and surface of each Ancré will vary naturally. Some pieces may emerge darker or more heavily marked by the fire; others may retain more of the clay's original earthen colour.
Subtle asymmetry and evidence of the hand belong to the object.
The Ancré you receive will share the same material language as the pieces shown here while remaining entirely its own.
Care
Treat Ancré as handmade pit-fired earthenware.
Once completely cool, remove loose ash gently with a soft dry cloth or brush. If deeper cleaning is needed, use as little water as necessary and allow the piece to dry thoroughly.
Avoid prolonged soaking, dishwashers, harsh detergents, and sudden changes in temperature.
Do not aggressively scrub or polish the surface. Smoke markings, mineral variation, and irregularities in the clay are part of the finished piece.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, Ancré should not be considered food-safe or watertight.
