Learn How to Keep Your Tesu Ceramics Lasting for Generations

Every curve remembers the hands that shaped it. Treat it accordingly.

Every Tesu Ceramics piece that you own is not made quickly, usually it took several weeks to complete it. It is shaped by hand, dried slowly for days, fired at high temperatures, and glazed with our own glazes care.

They were made for daily life. For that first coffee. For the bowl that holds Sunday soup. And with a little attention, they can outlast trends, house moves, kitchen reorganisations — and maybe even reach the next generation.

Here is everything you need to know to help them get there.

First, a little context

Our pieces aren't made with molds or wheels. Every single one is shaped by hand — which is why you might notice things mass-produced ceramics simply don't have:

• Slight variations in shape, wall thickness, or profile

• Glaze that shifts tone depending on the light

• Tiny speckles, our finger marks, or subtle irregularities in texture

• Small differences between pieces in the same set

None of this is a flaw. It's like evidence that what you're holding exists once, in this form, made by Tea or Suzana's hands — and that's the whole point.

These ceramics are also made to be used. Not saved for guests, not kept behind glass. 

Fired at high temperatures from premium stoneware clay, they're strong, durable, and ready for the small knocks of ordinary life. The glaze — made in our own studio — is food-safe, too.

Cleaning: The gentle way

Hand-washing is the kindest thing you can do for a handmade piece.

• Warm water

• A soft cloth or sponge

• Mild dish soap

• Rinse well, then dry with a towel or leave to air dry

That's genuinely all they need.

What about the dishwasher? Our ceramics are dishwasher-safe. If that's your rhythm, a few small habits help:

• Place pieces so they don't touch or knock against each other

• Use a gentle cycle

• Skip high-temperature drying where you can

Hand-washing will always be gentler on the glaze over time — but don't stress about it.

For stubborn stains

• Soak the piece in warm, soapy water before washing

• A paste of baking soda and water works well on tougher marks — apply gently, let it sit a few minutes, then rinse

• Dark lines on the glaze are almost always just silverware marks, not damage. The glaze underneath is still intact. A little dish soap and baking soda, scrubbed gently, will usually lift them away

What to avoid: Abrasive scouring pads, harsh chemicals, and scrubbing powders can dull or scratch the glaze over time. A soft touch is always enough.

Microwave: Yes, but gently

Our ceramics can go in the microwave. The one thing to watch for is sudden temperature change — this is what stresses the clay and, over time, can cause cracking.

• Heat gradually

• Never microwave an empty piece — always have something inside

These are small habits. But they protect against thermal shock — the main cause of cracks in ceramics that are otherwise perfectly fine.

Preventing chips and cracks

Our ceramics are strong, but not indestructible. They deserve the same attention you'd give anything you genuinely value.

• Avoid cutting directly on the surface with metal knives

• Be gentle when stacking — pieces can chip when knocked together

• Don't pour boiling liquid into a cold piece without pre-warming it

• Avoid setting a hot piece straight onto a cold surface

• Let them cool in their own time

None of this takes special effort. It just takes a little presence — the same presence that went into making them.

Storage matters more than people think

Most chips don't happen during use. They happen in the cupboard — pieces knocking together, stacked too high, wedged in too tight.

• Stack plates and bowls with care, not too many at once

• Slip a soft cloth or folded paper towel between stacked pieces

• Keep heavier pieces on lower shelves

• Give them room to breathe — overcrowded shelves cause damage

On imperfection

At some point, you may notice a mark and wonder — is this a flaw?

Small variations in shape, glaze tone, or texture are simply part of hand-building. They're not a sign of lesser quality. They're a sign of the real thing.

Each piece carries something of Tea's or Suzana's hands — their pressure, their rhythm, the particular moment that form came together.

A cup shaped by a machine is identical to every other cup. Yours is not.

Checking the glaze over time

With regular use, it's worth glancing over your pieces now and then. Grey lines from cutlery are just surface marks — the glaze underneath is intact, and the piece is perfectly fine to keep using.

If the glaze itself becomes significantly chipped or cracked, especially somewhere that touches food, it's better to retire that piece. With normal, attentive use, this is rare — but worth knowing.

A note from Tea and Suzana

Thank you for letting a piece of TESU into your home.

Every mug, bowl and plate that leaves our studio was made with attention, by hand. They're meant to be picked up, filled, used, and set down again — part of your ordinary, beautiful days.

The favourite cup for morning coffee. The pasta bowl for Sunday lunch. The plate you reach for because it simply feels good in your hands.

With a little care, your ceramics will age well — deepening slightly in character, staying strong, becoming more yours over time. Becoming, maybe, the piece passed from one generation to the next.

Enjoy them.

Tea & Suzana