3 Crucial Tips For Caring For Handmade Pottery
Posted on: 22 April 2019
Handmade pottery can take quite some time to make, especially if each step is performed by hand. After the pot, cup, or platter is pulled by hand on a potter's wheel, the piece will need to be carefully dried at appropriate temperatures, glazed, and fired to make it appropriate for daily use. However, that doesn't mean the care stops there. Here are three crucial tips for taking care of handmade pottery.
1. Handle Carefully While handmade pottery may be fired in a kiln to harden the clay, that doesn't mean the pieces are immune to damage. A single drop can shatter, crack, or put a chip in the edge of clay serving ware, which is why you should always focus on handling pieces carefully.
When you move handmade pottery, be sure to use both hands to stabilize the piece. Don't let small children carry delicate pottery and avoid using pottery in places where they may be moved repeatedly. Instead, focus on using each piece intentionally and moving items slowly to prevent sudden accidents.
2. Watch Out for Abrasives Although many handmade pottery pieces are designed to hold foods, liquids, and even dirt for plant potting, keeping items clean is part of the challenge of caring for dishes. Never use abrasive cleaners, scrub brushes, or dishcloths to clean pots as these items could dull the shine of the piece and make the item more susceptible to additional damage.
For instance, since the glaze covering potted pieces is protective, abrasives could make the interior of the piece more susceptible to moisture gain and loss, which could raise the chances of the piece cracking eventually. Instead, always use soft cloths to scrub handmade pottery, and never use cleaners that contain acids or abrasive particles.
3. Avoid Stark Temperature Changes Another villain to handmade pottery is stark temperature changes, since putting a cold pot in a hot oven or filling a hot pot with icy-cold ingredients could promote temperature changes severe enough to crack the stoneware.
Always place items close to room temperature in handmade pottery and be mindful of temperatures as you cook or use the pot. Keep in mind that thicker pieces may be even more susceptible to damage from stark temperature changes since the thickness of the stone makes it easier for the piece to hang onto ambient temperatures.
If you want to add to your serving ware collection, consider handmade dinnerware pottery. In addition to adding a touch of personality to your plates and dishes, investing in handmade pottery helps to support local businesses, strengthening your community.
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