About the service
I design and hand-throw complete tea-serving sets on the potter's wheel: one teapot paired with four matching teacups, built as a single cohesive collection rather than separate pieces glazed to match afterward. Each set starts with clay chosen for its heat retention and durability, thrown one vessel at a time so the teapot body, lid, handle, and spout all come from the same batch of clay and shrink together predictably during drying and firing.
The teapot itself gets particular attention to the details that make a handmade pot actually pleasant to use every day. The spout is shaped and pierced with a built-in strainer so loose-leaf tea stays out of the cup without a separate infuser. The lid is fitted individually to its own pot after the first firing, so it seats snugly and will not rattle or fall out when pouring. The handle is pulled and attached at an angle tested for balance, so a full pot of hot water does not feel top-heavy or awkward in the hand. I test every spout for a clean, drip-free pour before glazing, and any piece that does not pour well gets remade rather than shipped.
The four teacups are thrown to match the teapot in profile and proportion, sized generously enough for a proper cup of tea while still nesting comfortably in the hand. All five pieces — teapot, lid, and four cups — are glazed together in the same firing so color and surface texture read as one deliberate set instead of a mismatched grouping. I offer a range of glaze finishes, from smooth solid colors to more textured, reactive glazes that break and pool differently across each piece for a subtler, more organic look; I am happy to send photos of finish options and prior work so you can choose a direction that fits your kitchen or dining space before I begin.
Sizing is flexible: I can throw a smaller pot suited to one or two people, or a larger family-size teapot with cups to match if you regularly serve more guests. Every set is food-safe, dishwasher-durable stoneware fired to a high temperature for strength, and each piece is signed on the base. Because these are wheel-thrown by hand, no two sets are perfectly identical, and I think that is part of the appeal rather than a flaw — you get a genuine handmade object rather than a mass-produced look-alike.
I communicate throughout the process, sharing progress photos at the leather-hard stage, after the first firing, and again once glazing is complete, so you always know where your set stands and can flag any concerns before the final firing locks everything in. Turnaround accounts for the full multi-stage process of throwing, drying, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing, which cannot be rushed without risking cracks or glaze defects. If you have a specific occasion in mind — a wedding gift, a housewarming, or simply replacing a set that has seen better days — let me know the timeline up front and I will confirm whether it fits comfortably within the build schedule.
The teapot itself gets particular attention to the details that make a handmade pot actually pleasant to use every day. The spout is shaped and pierced with a built-in strainer so loose-leaf tea stays out of the cup without a separate infuser. The lid is fitted individually to its own pot after the first firing, so it seats snugly and will not rattle or fall out when pouring. The handle is pulled and attached at an angle tested for balance, so a full pot of hot water does not feel top-heavy or awkward in the hand. I test every spout for a clean, drip-free pour before glazing, and any piece that does not pour well gets remade rather than shipped.
The four teacups are thrown to match the teapot in profile and proportion, sized generously enough for a proper cup of tea while still nesting comfortably in the hand. All five pieces — teapot, lid, and four cups — are glazed together in the same firing so color and surface texture read as one deliberate set instead of a mismatched grouping. I offer a range of glaze finishes, from smooth solid colors to more textured, reactive glazes that break and pool differently across each piece for a subtler, more organic look; I am happy to send photos of finish options and prior work so you can choose a direction that fits your kitchen or dining space before I begin.
Sizing is flexible: I can throw a smaller pot suited to one or two people, or a larger family-size teapot with cups to match if you regularly serve more guests. Every set is food-safe, dishwasher-durable stoneware fired to a high temperature for strength, and each piece is signed on the base. Because these are wheel-thrown by hand, no two sets are perfectly identical, and I think that is part of the appeal rather than a flaw — you get a genuine handmade object rather than a mass-produced look-alike.
I communicate throughout the process, sharing progress photos at the leather-hard stage, after the first firing, and again once glazing is complete, so you always know where your set stands and can flag any concerns before the final firing locks everything in. Turnaround accounts for the full multi-stage process of throwing, drying, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing, which cannot be rushed without risking cracks or glaze defects. If you have a specific occasion in mind — a wedding gift, a housewarming, or simply replacing a set that has seen better days — let me know the timeline up front and I will confirm whether it fits comfortably within the build schedule.
