What do you look for when you buy ceramics? Most of us go straight to the look of the piece: the glaze, the shape, the colour palette. That matters, but there are a few other things worth checking, especially when you're buying handmade pottery online. Here's what I'd look for, as someone who makes it.
Can it go in the dishwasher?
Check whether the pieces can be put in the dishwasher. If you don't have one, it matters less, but it's a good sign of how robust the ceramics are. Pieces that are fired properly and glazed with food-safe glazes should handle everyday washing without fuss.
Can it go in the oven and microwave?
For plates and bowls especially, ask whether they can go in the oven. Well-fired stoneware can: I cook on my own plates and they go under the grill too. The one thing to avoid with any ceramic is thermal shock, a sudden jump in temperature, like taking a dish from the fridge straight into a hot oven or from a hot oven into a cold sink. Microwave safety matters for mugs and cups, especially a coffee mug that goes back in for a reheat; if a maker doesn't say, ask.
How tough is the clay?
All ceramics deserve some care, but some are tougher than others. Thin porcelain can be more fragile, whereas Australian mid-fire and stoneware clays are generally more hardy. My pieces are cone 6 midfire stoneware, fired to around 1220°C so the clay becomes non-porous and strong enough for daily use.
Is the glaze food safe?
If you're going to eat or drink from it, the glaze needs to be food safe. Reputable makers use lead-free, food-safe glazes and fire them to full maturity. If a listing doesn't say, it's completely fine to ask the maker directly.
Check the dimensions
When you're buying online, check the measurements. There are no standard sizes in handmade ceramics, so a "small bowl" from one maker might be a "medium" from another. This matters even more if you're putting together a set, or buying a planter for a particular pot or a vase for particular stems.
Choose handmade glazes for a unique piece
I make my own glazes, whereas a lot of ceramics use mass-produced commercial glazes. If you want a piece nobody else has, look for makers who develop their own colours and apply them by hand. Layered, hand-brushed glazes pool and run in the kiln, so each piece comes out a little different. My newest colourways always land first in the latest drop.
Look for variations, and good photos
Another sign of a genuinely handmade piece is variation from piece to piece. Handmade ceramics always have small differences in colour, glaze movement and surface, which is part of the appeal. Good makers photograph their work honestly, often piece by piece, and tell you where colours can vary. If every photo looks identical, it's worth asking whether it's really handmade.
Look at the base
Turn it over. On handmade stoneware, the base is usually left unglazed so it doesn't stick to the kiln shelf during firing. A neat, bare ring of clay is normal and shows the natural colour of the clay body.
Know what you're getting with seconds
Many makers sell seconds: pieces with small flaws, like a glaze drip or an uneven rim, at a lower price. They're usually perfectly usable and a great way to own handmade pottery for less. I sell mine in my seconds sale, with the flaw described on each listing.
Choose Australian made
Where possible, support local makers by buying Australian made. Extra points if it's a small business. You may even be able to visit the studio and see the work being made. If you'd like to come by my studio in Bellambi, just get in touch first.
Rhiannon
Frequently Asked Questions
Are handmade ceramics worth it?
If you want pieces that are made to last, made by a person and a little different from anyone else's, yes. Well-fired stoneware lasts for decades with everyday use, and you're supporting a maker rather than a factory. Everyday pieces like espresso cups are an easy place to start.
How can you tell if pottery is handmade?
Look for small variations between pieces in colour, glaze movement and surface, an unglazed base, and a maker who can tell you how each piece is made. Identical pieces with perfectly uniform glaze are usually factory made.
Is it safe to buy ceramics online?
Can you buy seconds or discounted ceramics online?
Yes. Many potters sell seconds, pieces with small cosmetic flaws, at a lower price. Mine are in the seconds sale, and each listing describes the flaw.
Is handmade stoneware dishwasher and oven safe?
Well-fired stoneware usually is. Mine is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. The only thing to avoid is a sudden change in temperature, like fridge to hot oven.