What about the ones that have Gold/metal/platinum/silver work on them?
No! As with any other metal, ceramics with metallic details such as Gold work should not be kept inside a microwave.
Is there anyway to repair broken ceramics?
Only if you are willing to go to Japan and learn the art of Kintsugi!
Why are your ceramics and baskets so expensive?
We are artists, craftsmen and women, there is value to that. All the pieces that come out of our studio are 100% handmade with various techniques and skills which are not easily found or learnt. We train, practice for years in hope to master our craft. We have knowledge and skill about our field like no other. Our products are one of a kind and take weeks to make from scratch. We are not machines and would never want to be. Human skill is always superior to mass produced, factory made pieces. It is highly unfair to artists/craftsman like us when we get this question on a regular basis yet no one questions this in a big store in a mall. It is also easy to think that just because we have certain prices we make a fortune but that is not the case. There is so much that goes into making a handmade product that people may not realise. All of our pieces are labor of love and yes this might raise a question “then why do it at all?” Its the satisfaction we get out of producing something from our bare hands in a world which now only runs on fumes.
What about durability?
Ceramics are durable but of course they are not break proof. Our ceramics are fired twice sometimes even three times in a kiln at temperatures upwards of 1260°C. This ensures durability and strength. Not only is studio pottery more sustainable to buy than plastic counterparts, you also help a local business thrive!
What about usage of lead? We hear ceramics use lead in their making!
Lead is a highly toxic material not only for us as humans but also in ceramics. We absolutely do not use lead in the making of our ceramics as it is illegal and highly unethical to use. You do do not have to worry about this. We are 100% lead free.
What are seconds or secondary pieces?
Seconds are basically pieces that have slight imperfections in them. This can be related to glaze imperfections, hairline cracks, wobble in the piece etc. These pieces are still functional but do not meet our expectations or standards of being proper and so they are discounted and listed as seconds.
What kind of clay is used to make your pieces?
Stoneware Clay, it is a high firing, white clay.
Why do I need to pay so much shipping?
All our products are extremely fragile and in some cases quite big in size. This means that we have to ensure the packaging is not only buffered on all sides but also big enough to incorporate all the pieces comfortably. Big packaging is always more expensive to ship than a small package. We package in 7 ply cardboard boxes and want our customers to receive their orders in one piece and for that we have to make our packaging big to ensure 360° buffering.
How do I clean wooden pieces?
Wood and water are not the best of friends. A coating of mustard oil or olive oil is sufficient to keep the wood shiny and healthy for a long time. A coat of wood wax can also be used to maintain their shine.
Is your packaging eco-friendly?
We use recyclable materials for our interior packaging such as egg trays, jute/cotton threads and cardboard. Also the white cotton bags that we package our pieces in are not only reusable and make for an excellent vegetable bag to keep inside your refrigerator, these bags also help us employ local workforce.