Porcelain-based ceramicist Lars Soendergaard lives in a rural Mid-Suffolk village. An old house in Fressingfield (dating back to around 1675) instantly charmed him and drove his move to Suffolk in 2000. The house provided everything Lars was looking for with workshop, retail space, and ample accommodation. At the time one could catch a ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg in Lars’ native Denmark which was also a big factor.

Since his early years, Lars has had a keen interest in ceramics. This interest was encouraged by his late uncle Reinhold Soendergaard Gregersen - himself a well known artist in Denmark. Starting in 1981, Lars did a four year apprenticeship as a production thrower in a small Danish studio pottery called Brangstrup Stoneware. He was fortunate to be involved with all aspects of production, design and sales, which he continued into his work after graduating working for several potteries as a potter and designer. In 1993, he moved to London to work as a production manager in a company making ceramic tabletops. In 1995 he started his own business developing and selling his own designs.

Ultimately, Lars is influenced by Scandinavian design and function. He make functional wares without a lot of unnecessary decoration to highlight the beauty of his hand thrown process. His wife Raz, is a welcome help with her good eye for colour and design, which also inspires Lars’ practice.

Lars enjoys the challenge of working solely in English porcelain. He favours the translucency that it provides plus the strength and wonderful ring it makes when being pinged. Also being a white body, porcelain allows for the application of very pale to full on colours/glazes. All pots are hand-thrown by Lars on the wheel which is the only piece of equipment he uses. All handles on Lars’ mugs are individually hand-pulled, making all the difference. 

The range available in The Merchant’s Table are more or less made exclusive for us to share with you. TMT’s founder and owner Susanna, worked collaboratively with Lars to put the vision of a transparent glossy glaze, which provides such a smooth touch and compliments Lars’ larger collection.