FAQ
Questions about handmade pottery
Everything people ask before and after buying a handmade ceramic mug. If your question isn't here, the studio inbox is genuinely read by a person.
Materials & safety
- Are handmade ceramic mugs microwave safe?
- Yes. Every mug we make is high-fired stoneware with lead-free, food-safe glazes and no metallic lustre, so it is microwave safe. The clay is dense and warms along with your drink, so give the handle a second before you grip it.
- Are your mugs dishwasher safe?
- Glossy glazed pieces are dishwasher safe on a normal cycle. Matte and burnished surfaces stay richer with hand washing, though a dishwasher won't damage them.
- Is handmade pottery food safe?
- Ours is. The stoneware is fired to cone 6 until vitrified and non-porous, and all glazes are lead-free, cadmium-free, and tested for functional use.
- What is the difference between ceramic and stoneware?
- Stoneware is a type of ceramic, fired hotter (around 1,220°C) than earthenware. That extra heat vitrifies the clay so it holds no water, resists chipping, and retains heat better.
Choosing a mug
- What size coffee mug should I buy?
- 8 oz for espresso drinks, 10–12 oz for pour-over and drip, 14–16 oz for big morning coffee or a large latte. Listed capacity is measured to the rim, so usable volume is about 10–15% less.
- Will my mug look exactly like the photograph?
- The form, size, and glaze recipe will match. Glaze pattern, speckle, and colour depth vary between kiln loads, especially on reactive and ash-glazed pieces.
- Can I order a matching set?
- Yes, but choose a satin or speckled glaze rather than a reactive one if close matching matters. Email the studio and we'll pull pieces from the same firing.
Orders, shipping & care
- How long does shipping take?
- Orders ship within 3–5 business days, wrapped in kraft paper inside a protective box. Allow a week ahead of a dated occasion.
- What if my mug arrives damaged?
- Send a photograph within seven days and we will replace it or refund you in full. Ceramics travel well but not perfectly.
- How should I care for a handmade mug?
- Wash normally, avoid extreme thermal shock such as boiling water into a freezer-cold mug, and store mugs upright or hanging rather than stacked rim to rim. Coffee staining lifts with baking soda.
- My mug has fine lines in the glaze — is it broken?
- That is crazing: a fine web that appears when glaze and clay expand at slightly different rates. On vitrified stoneware it is cosmetic, not structural, and many potters encourage it deliberately.
Still curious? Read the journal or write to the studio.
The Studio Letter
New glazes, before they sell out.
Limited-edition firings are usually gone within a day. Subscribers see the kiln opening first, plus notes on new collections and studio openings.