Bauble vases are textured ceramic vases - the surface of the form carries variation before the glaze even goes on. The clay body itself shifts and moves during forming, which means where the glaze sits thicker it deepens, and where it thins across a raised edge it lightens. Purple bleeding into orange. Rust red gathering low and thinning upward. These are compact enough to work as a ceramic bud vase on a shelf or bedside table, or to hold a small fresh arrangement.
Smoosh vases are round ceramic vases - squeezed and softened into an irregular spherical form, wider in some places, pinched at others. The glaze on a round form behaves differently to how it reads on a flat one: colours pool at the base, lighten at the shoulder, and concentrate wherever the brush moved slowly. Two Smoosh vases in the same colourway can read completely differently side by side, because the round form catches the glaze at different angles.
Sculptural vases push further still. These are the large ceramic vases in the collection - taller, more abstract, less interested in being useful and more interested in being interesting. A tall ceramic vase from this collection earns its place in a room the same way an object of art does. They hold flowers if you want them to, but they are perfectly content not to.
All three forms are made at the studio in Bellambi on the NSW South Coast, in small batches. The glazes are brush-applied in layers and fired twice - bisque first, then the glaze fire. That process means colours layer and interact rather than sitting flat, and what happens at the edges and recesses is partly the kiln's decision. It is why no two ceramic vases from this collection are exactly alike, even within the same colourway.
Handmade ceramic vases made in Wollongong, Australia. Pottery vases handmade to order in small batches from $65. Free tracked shipping on orders over $190 Australia-wide.
How are our ceramic vases made
Every ceramic vase in this collection is formed by hand at the studio in Bellambi, Wollongong - made in small batches, each piece slightly different from the last. The forming is only the beginning.
After forming, each pottery vase is bisque-fired - a lower-temperature first firing that hardens the clay without locking in colour. Then the glazing begins. The glazes are applied by brush in multiple layers, building up areas of colour that will shift and interact when the kiln reaches temperature. The same glaze can read completely differently on two different forms, depending on thickness and where the brush moved.
The second firing - the glaze fire - is when the colour locks in. Colours that went on as matte powder come out glossy and saturated. What happens at the edges and in the recesses is partly the kiln's decision, which is why no two handmade ceramic vases from this collection are exactly alike - even in the same colourway, the same batch.
Made at the studio in Bellambi, Wollongong, NSW.
Why buy handmade ceramic vases?
Holds Water
Sealed and tested - all ceramic vases hold water for fresh or dried arrangements.
Unlike Anything in a Shop
Every piece is handmade by Rhiannon and truly unique. You won't see ceramics like this in your local chain store
Unique Glazes
Hand poured and brush-applied in layers and fired twice. Colours shift with light - no two are exactly alike.
Free Tracked Shipping Across Australia
For orders above $190, flat rate shipping of $15 on all other orders.
Questions about our handmade ceramic vases
Yes - all vases in this collection are sealed and tested to hold water for fresh or dried flower arrangements. The glaze seals the clay body completely. If you're using fresh-cut stems, a simple rinse between uses is all they need. Dried arrangements sit in them with no water at all.
Hand wash in warm soapy water and dry upside down. The glazed surfaces are highly durable but we recommend avoiding abrasive cleaners.
Yes - all glazes used in this collection are non-toxic, the same glazes used on our food and drink ware. The fired glaze surface is stable, durable and safe for use in the home. There are no hazardous materials in the finished products.
Yes. Every handmade pottery vase in this collection is made at the studio in Bellambi, Wollongong, NSW. Made in small batches by hand - no overseas manufacturing, no outsourced production.
The collection spans compact forms and larger statement pieces. Bauble and smoosh vases come in small and large sizes. Sculptural vases are the largest - tall ceramic vases that present as much as standalone art pieces than vessels. Check individual product listings for specific dimensions, as they vary across batches.
Yes - we ship handmade ceramic vases Australia-wide with free tracked shipping on orders over $190. Every vase is packed individually with protective materials to arrive safely. We ship from Wollongong, NSW. For international shipping enquiries, contact us via the contact page, we just need your address and what you'd like to order.
Each ceramic vase is individually wrapped and packed with protective materials before dispatch. We've shipped hundreds of fragile handmade pottery vases Australia-wide and our damage rate is very low. If a piece arrives damaged despite our packaging, contact us at hello@rhiannongillceramics.com and we'll sort it out.
Yes - and dried arrangements are one of the best uses for this collection. Dried flowers, banksia stems and eucalyptus all sit beautifully in pottery vases without any water needed. The abstract glaze colours in this range particularly suit the earthy, textured look of dried botanicals. No water means no maintenance - just arrange once and leave.
Handmade ceramic vases make strong gifts because they're genuinely one-off objects - the recipient gets something that doesn't exist in any other home. Each vase ships in protective packaging from Wollongong, and we're happy to include a handwritten note if you mention it at checkout. Browse the full range for birthdays, housewarmings, or just because.
Custom commissions are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have something specific in mind - a particular size, a colourway combination, or a quantity for an event - reach out via the contact page or at hello@rhiannongillceramics.com and we'll let you know what's possible.