Project description
I'm looking to commission a full hand-thrown ceramic dinnerware set from an experienced potter for our everyday family table. This isn't a mass-produced pattern — I want the warmth and slight variation you only get from wheel-thrown, handmade pieces, but with enough consistency across the set that it feels like a coordinated collection rather than mismatched pieces.
The set should include roughly 6-8 dinner plates, 6-8 smaller side/salad plates, 6-8 shallow bowls suitable for pasta, soup or cereal, and 6-8 mugs with comfortable handles. I'm open to discussing exact counts and whether serving pieces (a platter, a large serving bowl) could be added as optional extras with an adjusted budget and timeline.
On glaze and style: I'm drawn to earthy, food-safe glazes — think warm stoneware in the sand, sage, or deep terracotta family — but I'm genuinely open to a potter's recommendation based on what fires well and holds up to dishwasher and microwave use. Please share your usual glaze palette and a few examples of past dinnerware commissions so we can pick something that suits both your process and my kitchen. Rims and footrings should be finished cleanly so the pieces stack and sit flat without wobbling.
Functionally, everything needs to be fully food-safe, microwave- and dishwasher-safe (or clearly labeled if hand-wash only), and durable enough for daily rotation — this is a set we intend to actually use, not display. Slight handmade variation in glaze pooling or rim shape is welcome and expected; I just want the pieces to read as a family, not as unrelated one-offs.
Timeline-wise, I understand throwing, trimming, bisque firing, glazing and a final firing takes real time, and I'm budgeting for a multi-week turnaround rather than expecting rush work. Please include your typical production schedule for a set this size, whether you work from a home studio or shared kiln space, and how you handle packing/shipping fragile ceramics safely (or if local pickup is an option).
Please respond with your portfolio of previous dinnerware sets, your standard glaze options, estimated turnaround, and a quote based on the piece count above. I'd also appreciate knowing if you can produce a single test mug or small plate first so I can approve color and weight before the full set is thrown. Looking forward to seeing your work and discussing details.
The set should include roughly 6-8 dinner plates, 6-8 smaller side/salad plates, 6-8 shallow bowls suitable for pasta, soup or cereal, and 6-8 mugs with comfortable handles. I'm open to discussing exact counts and whether serving pieces (a platter, a large serving bowl) could be added as optional extras with an adjusted budget and timeline.
On glaze and style: I'm drawn to earthy, food-safe glazes — think warm stoneware in the sand, sage, or deep terracotta family — but I'm genuinely open to a potter's recommendation based on what fires well and holds up to dishwasher and microwave use. Please share your usual glaze palette and a few examples of past dinnerware commissions so we can pick something that suits both your process and my kitchen. Rims and footrings should be finished cleanly so the pieces stack and sit flat without wobbling.
Functionally, everything needs to be fully food-safe, microwave- and dishwasher-safe (or clearly labeled if hand-wash only), and durable enough for daily rotation — this is a set we intend to actually use, not display. Slight handmade variation in glaze pooling or rim shape is welcome and expected; I just want the pieces to read as a family, not as unrelated one-offs.
Timeline-wise, I understand throwing, trimming, bisque firing, glazing and a final firing takes real time, and I'm budgeting for a multi-week turnaround rather than expecting rush work. Please include your typical production schedule for a set this size, whether you work from a home studio or shared kiln space, and how you handle packing/shipping fragile ceramics safely (or if local pickup is an option).
Please respond with your portfolio of previous dinnerware sets, your standard glaze options, estimated turnaround, and a quote based on the piece count above. I'd also appreciate knowing if you can produce a single test mug or small plate first so I can approve color and weight before the full set is thrown. Looking forward to seeing your work and discussing details.
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