Examining the idea of families of objects in which each individual item has its own, distinct personality yet shares common traits with its 'relatives'; Hella Jongerius began thinking about the similarities between glass and ceramics. Both materials are based on earth – sand or clay – and both need heat in order to be transformed. Yet oddly enough the chemical aspects of their particular production process have until now prohibited their unification in one element.

Always curious about new materials and techniques, Hella began experimenting with ways to combine the two materials. As porcelain shrinks upon firing and is the more unpredictable of the two, Hella began by creating the porcelain vase. She then used it to make a mould for the glass vase. The glass vase was also created with a bottom so the result is two separate vases with two separate identities, though each is made to fit with the other.

To connect the two elements, Hella wrapped them together with bright packing tape, explaining: 'Otherwise they are too aesthetic. I like them to seem unfinished, like a sketch'.

Long Neck and Groove Bottles are in the permanent collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Stedelijk Museum in the Netherlands.

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