Handmade ceramics vary enormously in how they were fired, glazed, and finished — far more than mass-produced tableware — which means the care that is fine for your everyday mugs can genuinely damage a piece bought directly from an artist. The good news is that almost all of this is solved by asking one question at the booth before you leave.
Ask the artist these questions before you leave the booth
- Is it food-safe, if you intend to use it for food or drink?
- Is it dishwasher-safe, or hand-wash only?
- Is the glaze fired to a stable, vitrified finish, or is it lower-fired and more porous?
- Was it finished with anything that is not heat- or water-stable (certain decorative finishes, for instance)?
- Is it meant for display only, or genuinely functional?
Everyday care
When in doubt, hand-wash rather than dishwasher, using a soft sponge rather than anything abrasive. Avoid sudden temperature changes — moving a piece straight from a hot dishwasher cycle to a cold counter, or vice versa, can stress glaze and clay differently and cause hairline cracking (called 'crazing') over time, especially in lower-fired or more rustic work. Let pieces come to room temperature gradually.
Display and storage
Keep ceramics out of direct, intense sunlight if the glaze has any colored or decorative elements, since prolonged UV exposure can shift certain pigments over years. If stacking similar pieces for storage, use a soft liner (felt, a folded cloth) between them — glaze-on-glaze contact is one of the most common causes of small chips in storage, not use.
If it chips or cracks
Do not attempt a permanent repair with generic household glue if the piece has any real value to you — it is very difficult to undo later and can make a professional repair harder or impossible. For anything you care about keeping intact, a professional ceramics restorer can often repair chips and cracks invisibly; for everyday functional pieces with minor damage, many artists are happy to advise directly if you reach out, since they know their own materials best.
Frequently asked questions
Is handmade pottery dishwasher safe?
Not always — it depends on the glaze and firing. Ask the artist directly at the time of purchase; when in doubt, hand-wash to be safe.
Why did my ceramic piece develop small cracks in the glaze?
This is often 'crazing' — fine surface cracks caused by sudden temperature changes or, in some cases, the way a piece was fired. It is more common in lower-fired or rustic work and is usually cosmetic rather than structural, but ask the artist if you are unsure.
Can a chipped ceramic piece be repaired?
Often yes, especially by a professional ceramics restorer for pieces you want preserved invisibly. Avoid generic household glue for anything you care about keeping intact — it can make a proper repair more difficult later.