Project description
I am looking for a skilled ceramicist to hand-throw a custom teapot and matching tea set for everyday use in my home, and eventually as a gift for my mother who collects handmade pottery. This is not a mold-cast or slip-cast piece — I specifically want wheel-thrown work with visible throwing lines and the kind of subtle asymmetry that only comes from a human hand on the wheel.
The set should include one teapot (roughly 24-28 oz capacity, with a comfortable side handle and a spout that pours cleanly without dripping), four matching cups (around 6-8 oz each), and ideally a small saucer or tray the teapot can rest on. I am drawn to a warm, matte stoneware body with a glaze somewhere between celadon green and soft oatmeal — something organic, not glossy or overly bright. I have reference photos from a few studios I admire and I am happy to share those for direction, but I also want room for your own interpretation as the maker; I am not looking for an exact copy, just the same feeling.
Functionally, the lid needs to fit snugly so it does not slide off when pouring, and the spout has to actually work well — I have received handmade teapots before that looked beautiful but dribbled everywhere, so pouring performance matters as much as the aesthetics. Food-safe, lead-free glazes only, and the whole set should be dishwasher-safe if that is achievable with your firing process, though I understand many potters recommend hand washing for glazed stoneware.
My budget reflects a full commission including clay, glaze materials, multiple firings (bisque and glaze), and your time on the wheel and at the kiln, and I am flexible on final pricing depending on your process and experience level. I would love to see photos of similar work you have made before, and if possible a short video of you throwing on the wheel just so I get a sense of your style and control. I am also open to a studio visit if you are local, though I understand most potters work asynchronously and that is completely fine.
Timeline-wise I know pottery cannot be rushed — clay needs to dry slowly and firings take time — so I have built in a realistic window that accounts for greenware drying, bisque firing, glazing, and a final glaze firing, plus a buffer in case anything cracks or needs a second attempt. Regular photo updates at each stage (thrown, trimmed, bisque-fired, glazed) would be very much appreciated so I can follow the process. Please reach out with your portfolio and any questions about the design before we begin — I want to make sure we are aligned on shape, size, and glaze before any clay touches the wheel.
The set should include one teapot (roughly 24-28 oz capacity, with a comfortable side handle and a spout that pours cleanly without dripping), four matching cups (around 6-8 oz each), and ideally a small saucer or tray the teapot can rest on. I am drawn to a warm, matte stoneware body with a glaze somewhere between celadon green and soft oatmeal — something organic, not glossy or overly bright. I have reference photos from a few studios I admire and I am happy to share those for direction, but I also want room for your own interpretation as the maker; I am not looking for an exact copy, just the same feeling.
Functionally, the lid needs to fit snugly so it does not slide off when pouring, and the spout has to actually work well — I have received handmade teapots before that looked beautiful but dribbled everywhere, so pouring performance matters as much as the aesthetics. Food-safe, lead-free glazes only, and the whole set should be dishwasher-safe if that is achievable with your firing process, though I understand many potters recommend hand washing for glazed stoneware.
My budget reflects a full commission including clay, glaze materials, multiple firings (bisque and glaze), and your time on the wheel and at the kiln, and I am flexible on final pricing depending on your process and experience level. I would love to see photos of similar work you have made before, and if possible a short video of you throwing on the wheel just so I get a sense of your style and control. I am also open to a studio visit if you are local, though I understand most potters work asynchronously and that is completely fine.
Timeline-wise I know pottery cannot be rushed — clay needs to dry slowly and firings take time — so I have built in a realistic window that accounts for greenware drying, bisque firing, glazing, and a final glaze firing, plus a buffer in case anything cracks or needs a second attempt. Regular photo updates at each stage (thrown, trimmed, bisque-fired, glazed) would be very much appreciated so I can follow the process. Please reach out with your portfolio and any questions about the design before we begin — I want to make sure we are aligned on shape, size, and glaze before any clay touches the wheel.
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