Care Guide

Each piece is stoneware, fired to cone 8 — high enough that the clay body fully vitrifies, becoming dense, non-porous, and durable in a way earthenware never is. Where glazed, the glaze is food safe and designed for daily use. This isn't delicate work. It's built to be used.

That said, handmade pieces deserve a little more care than mass-produced ones — not because they're fragile, but because they're not made to a uniform industrial spec, and a few small habits will keep them at their best for years.

Washing

Hand wash only. Warm water and a mild dish soap are enough. I'd avoid the dishwasher — not because the piece can't survive it, but because harsh detergents and the heat cycle will dull a glaze's finish over time, and unglazed marbled surfaces (like neriage) can pick up staining from repeated exposure to detergent residue.

Heat

Vitrified stoneware handles oven, microwave, and everyday hot food and drink without issue. What it doesn't handle well is sudden temperature change — going straight from the freezer into a hot oven, or from the stovetop into cold water. Let pieces come to room temperature before a big shift either way. This is true of virtually all ceramics, handmade or not, but it's worth saying plainly rather than assuming it's obvious.

Unglazed Surfaces

On neriage pieces, the exterior is left unglazed so the marbling stays visible — this means that surface is more porous than a glazed one, even at full vitrification. Over time it may pick up subtle colour from foods and drink (a bit like a well-used wooden board), which I consider part of the piece's character rather than a flaw. If you'd prefer it stay closer to its original state, avoid prolonged contact with strongly pigmented foods (turmeric, berries, red wine) sitting directly on the unglazed surface for extended periods.

Chips and Cracks

Stoneware is strong, but not indestructible — a hard knock against a hard surface can chip a rim or edge. If that happens, the piece is still usable unless the crack runs through the body; a chipped rim doesn't compromise food safety on its own, but I'd retire a piece with a crack that goes all the way through, since it can no longer be trusted to hold liquid or heat evenly.

A Note on Longevity

None of this is about being precious. These pieces are meant to be part of daily life, not kept behind glass. A little basic care just means they'll hold up to that daily use for a long time — and if anything ever does go wrong with a piece, get in touch and I'm happy to talk it through.