Safety

Is the pottery food safe? Most stoneware (pottery fired above 2000 F) produced in the U.S. is free from lead or other toxic heavy metals that might leach into foods. There are test kits out there (we do not have them) in case you already have questionable pottery. Our pottery is food safe.

Can we microwave your pottery? Yes. Your food or beverage microwaved will heat the container but not usually a handle. 

What about cleanup? You can use your dishwasher to clean your pottery!

Can we bake with your pottery and what’s the highest temperature the pottery can withstand? Yes, you can bake with our pottery, but you should not pre-heat your oven. Let the pottery and contents heat up from room temperature with the oven. With pie plates, for example, this adds about 10 minutes to the baking time, but you will be pleased with the results. Do not take pottery from the refrigerator or freezer to the oven! If heated with the oven there, your oven cannot produce enough heat to harm the pottery – no max! Please avoid use on surface units, broilers, and toaster ovens.

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What is the pottery process?

Refined and de-aired clay is weighed out and brought to the potter’s wheel. For production purposes an electric wheel is used. The clay is centered and opened. The wall is then brought up and shaped by its flow through the fingers of the potter. Once the piece has been finished at the wheel, it is set aside to dry to the point of leather hard. It is then trimmed, carved, or has handles added. The completed piece must air dry completely before it is placed in a kiln for the bisque firing (to 1800 degrees). It takes 8-10 hours to reach temperature and approximately the same amount of time to cool. The piece then is glazed (a glass formula suspended in water). Because the clay has not yet been fired to maturity, it absorbs the water and the powdered glass adheres to the piece. In our process the glaze is either poured on or the piece is dipped in the bucket of glaze. It is then fired once more in the kiln (to 2150 degrees F). At that temperature the clay and glaze melt together at the point of vitrification. The firing process stops at that point (usually 9 hours). The cooling takes almost 12 hours. The kiln is emptied and pieces are priced and inventoried. Non-ceramic parts, such as collars for soap dispensers or hurricane lamps, are glued to those pieces after firings are complete.