Dezeen Magazine

The Ceramophone is a musical instrument with keys made of porcelain tiles

Ceramophone is a percussion instrument with keys made of porcelain tiles

A video filmed at the Dezeen Awards 2023 ceremony reveals the Ceramophone, a musical instrument with keys made of porcelain tiles created by Solus Ceramics and Mirage.

The Ceramophone was designed by architect Simon Astridge and music producer James Mason.

 

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The Ceramophone was shown at the Dezeen Awards party

The instrument's keys are made of porcelain tiles that have been tuned to the pentatonic scale, with each key's pitch determined by the distance between the two rubber supports on which they sit.

The porcelain keys are arranged in a radial design atop a steamed-wood structure made by shipwright Jerry Fleming.

The Ceramophone is a musical instrument with keys made of porcelain tiles
The Ceramophone is a musical instrument with keys made of porcelain tiles

The Ceramophone was installed at this year's Dezeen Awards ceremony hosted in London, where percussionists Gosia Kepa and Connor Chambers performed a duet they composed for the instrument.

It was created to coincide with the launch of Sounds of the Earth, an events series hosted at UK-based tile supplier Solus Ceramics' London showroom.

This invited composers, scientists, architects, engineers, artists and musicians to experiment with the instrument and explore the relationship between sound and space.

The Ceramophone, a unique musical instrument by architect Simon Astridge and music producer James Mason
The Ceramophone was designed by architect Simon Astridge and music producer James Mason

Sounds of the Earth was a collaboration between Solus Ceramics and Italian tile producer Mirage, which contributed the porcelain tiles used to create the Ceramophone's keys.

Partnership content

This video was produced by Dezeen for Solus Ceramics and Mirage as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen's partnership content here.