(L. to r.) Ruscha 806, 29cm; Ruscha (unmarked), 20cm; Villeroy and Boch 4283, 17.75cm; Ilkra 159-34, 34 cm

Eckhardt & Engler 2005-20, 20cm; Carstens 7854/25, 25cm; Royal Copenhagen “Baca,” 20cm

Today just might be the last “summer” day where I live, as cooler weather and rain is just around the corner. Luckily for me, my disposition is as sunny and warm as the weather because these wonderful pieces arrived today! Their delivery would be one thing, but the joy of collecting ceramics is they always surprise you in person — images never do them justice, as is the case here. While the four yellow vases seem similar, the surfaces of the two Ruschas are thicker, with a dark undertone and thousands of tiny holes made by burst air bubbles; the Ilkra is super smooth, and wrapped in what appears to be endless buttery clouds; and the Villeroy and Boch’s glaze contains horizontal bands of graduated color enhanced by an almost invisible craquelure. As for the others, the Royal Copenhagen’s four surfaces are a fascinating fusion of Jackson Pollack and the natural world; the Eckhardt and Engler is a mix of straight-laced and comic, with its playful white lines dancing over a somber and subtly grooved chocolate base; and the Carstens appears as if it was dipped in the type of sugar glaze you would use to decorate a Bundt cake, creating an effect which lightens and softens the formidable molded faces. All in all, a wonderful mix for a wonderful day! Winter may be on the march, that is true — but with these pieces close by, sunny days will never be far away.