Our pieces are not made with molds or wheels. Every single one is shaped slowly, by hand.

Because of this, you may notice things that mass-produced ceramics don't have:

• Slight variations in shape, wall thickness, or profile
• Glaze that shifts tone depending on the light
• Tiny speckles, finger marks, or subtle irregularities in texture
• Small differences between pieces in the same set

None of these are flaws. They are the evidence of human hands - the small, honest marks that make each piece unique.

What you are holding exists once, in this form, made by Tea or Suzana. That is the whole point.

These ceramics are made to be used. Not (just) displayed. Not saved for guests. Used - every day, for everything.

They are fired at high temperatures from premium stoneware clay, which makes them strong, durable, and resistant to the small knocks of ordinary life. 

We also create our own glaze which is food-safe.

The gentle way

Hand-washing is the kindest thing you can do for handcrafted ceramics. 

Warm water, a soft cloth or sponge, mild dish soap. Rinse well, dry with a towel, or leave to air dry.

That is genuinely all they need.

Dishwasher

Our ceramics are dishwasher-safe. If you use the dishwasher, a few things will help:

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

- Use a gentle cycle

- Avoid high-temperature drying if possible

Hand-washing will always be the gentler option and will extend the life of the glaze over time, but don’t stress too much about it. 

Removing stains

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, leave for a few minutes, then rinse.

Dark lines on the glaze surface are usually just silverware marks, not damage. The glaze beneath is intact. Scrub gently with a mix of dish soap and baking soda and they will usually come away.

What to avoid

Abrasive scouring pads, harsh chemical cleaners, and scrubbing powders can dull or scratch the glaze over time. A soft touch is enough.

Our ceramics can go in both the oven and the microwave. The one thing to be careful of is sudden temperature changes - these can stress the clay and, over time, cause cracking.

In the microwave

- Heat gradually

- Do not overheat empty pieces, always have something inside

In the oven

- Start with a cold oven and let the ceramics heat gradually alongside it

- Never place cold ceramics directly into a hot oven

- Do not pour boiling liquids into a cold piece, pre-warm it first with hot tap water if needed

- Allow pieces to cool naturally after heating; do not move them to a cold surface directly

These small habits protect against thermal shock - the main cause of unexpected cracks in ceramics that are otherwise perfectly intact.

Our ceramics are strong. But they are not indestructible, and they deserve the same attention you would give any object you genuinely value.

The most common causes of damage are impact and sudden temperature changes. To prevent both:

- Avoid cutting directly on stoneware surfaces with metal knives

- Be gentle when stacking, pieces can chip when knocked together

- Don't pour boiling liquids into a cold piece without pre-warming it first

- Avoid placing hot ceramics on very cold surfaces

- Let them cool on their own, unhurried

None of this requires special effort. It just requires a little presence - the same kind of presence that went into making them.

How you store your ceramics matters more than people realise. Most chips happen not in use, but in the cupboard - pieces knocking together, stacked too high, wedged in too tightly.

• Stack plates and bowls with care, not too many at once
• Place a soft cloth or folded paper towel between stacked pieces
• Store heavier pieces lower
• Leave them room to breathe, overcrowded shelves cause damage

A moment of care when you put things away saves a great deal of sadness later.

On imperfection

At some point, you may notice something and wonder: is this a flaw?

Small variations in shape, glaze tone, or surface texture are inherent to the hand-building process. They are not signs of poor quality. They are signs of the real thing.

Each piece carries something of Tea's or Suzana's hands — their pressure, their rhythm, the particular moment in which that form came together. These small marks are not imperfections. They are exactly the point.

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

With regular use, it is worth inspecting your ceramics occasionally. Grey lines from cutlery are surface marks, the glaze is still intact and the piece is perfectly fine to use.

If the glaze itself becomes significantly chipped or cracked, especially in areas that contact food, it is better to retire that piece. This rarely happens with normal, attentive use, but it is worth knowing.