Fantastic Potters and where to find them
Why you should be investing in handmade crockery, plus a bonus for my paying subscribers: my little black book of my favourite independent potters and retailers.
One of the first things we invested in upon moving into our newly renovated home, about three years ago, was a set of grown-up dinnerware. Previously to this, we had been using for about a decade some pretty unoffensive Ikea white plates. They worked perfectly fine, they were cheap and hence easy to replace when they inevitably chipped. It wasn’t until I switched to thick, handmade ceramic plates that I realised what I had been missing out on.
Now, I can’t credibly sit here and say handmade crockery is the way to go for everyone. If you have small children (or an accident-prone partner), by all means, have the cheap stuff on the front line. But perhaps I can persuade you nice crockery is worth investing in, even if just for special occasions.
Here are my top tips for buying crockery that are worth investing in:
1. Avoid distractions
My main guiding principle when it comes to dinnerware is simple: they should act as a perfect stage for your food, they are not meant to steal the show! Anything that diverts your attention from the food should be avoided: that goes for colour, patterns and finish.
Keep it earthy, neutral and matt
It won’t come as a surprise to you that my preference for plates is on the neutral side. I strongly believe that you eat with your eyes first, and a neutral background will complement and enhance most foods. On the other hand, bold, solid colours can make certain foods look quite unappealing (the biggest culprit, in my opinion, being any colour on the blue spectrum). Simple white plates are timeless, but I personally think earthy clay tones bring a little more to the table (pun intended), and provide a bit more of a wow factor.
Either way, I prefer my plates to be matt: shiny china calls for reflections and glares that distract from the food and incidentally, they are also a nightmare to photograph. Not that this necessarily will factor into your decision-making, just putting it out there.
The same thing goes for patterns. Some subtle, organic motives in more contemporary pieces are perfectly fine, and little decorative elements on the edging of a vintage plate can look very endearing too. Just avoid crazy, large and colourful patterns all over your plate: your dinner might just end up looking like a Rorschach test.
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Play with shape and texture instead
Keeping a neutral palette doesn’t necessarily mean settling for boring dinnerware. On the contrary, you can add a lot of character by playing with interesting shapes or textures. The latter category, in particular, is where handmade crockeries really shine! Which leads me to my next point…
2. Cherish the imperfections
In my recent article on Wabi-sabi (which you can read here) I have spoken about the merits of things which are imperfect. When it comes to ceramics, in particular, little imperfections are what make each piece unique to you, and as such they are not just acceptable, but preferrable (as long as they don’t compromise the structural integrity of the object) . They show that you are the proud owner of something that has been crafted by hand, that doesn’t come out of a factory. I am not suggesting there is something inherently wrong with good-quality, ethical factory-produced objects. But I would argue that the experience of holding (and eating from) a hand-made plate simply does not compare.
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3. The thicker, the better
One thing I love about our plate collection is how thick and heavy they feel to the touch. There is something about eating out of a handmade, thick ceramic plate that elevates the whole experience, like eating out in a cool restaurant. Perhaps it is no coincidence that we started our collection during lockdown, when we moved into our home. Joe and I are keen restaurant-goers, and using a local potter’s dinnerware (who, incidentally, also supplies some of our favourite restaurants in East London), gave us the illusion to be dining out.
There are cons to this approach, of course: bulkier crockery means less storage space. They are heavier to bring on a tray. On the flip side, however, they are usually fairly sturdy and harder to chip (at least compared to fine china).
4. Sets vs Mix and match
This is where things get a little more complicated. Generally speaking, I do prefer for dinnerplates to be part of a set, if possible. They are a safer option, and you can be sure that your table will look cohesive and put together every time. Sure, a mix-and-match look can look charming and effortlessly chic if pulled out correctly (and looks particularly at home in a rustic cottage), but in my opinion, it is way harder to achieve.
Having said that, I do have a collection of the odd plate (or couple of plates) sitting at the back of my cupboard, hoarded over the span of the past decade. They do come out every now and then, if I am planning a romantic dinner for two and I want the table to feel a little different from our daily routine. And they do come in incredibly handy for styling in my photographic work. But if I am setting the table for a group, I will naturally default to my set collection.
5. The exceptions
There are always exceptions to the rule, of course. You can have a bit more fun with common sharing plates or bowls (I will admit I have a few fairly colourful AND shiny ones in my arsenal). My rule of thumb is, as long as you don’t have to stare at it too long and actually eat from it, you’ll be fine!
Mugs are another area where I don’t mind a good mix-and-match. In fact, I have built a small collection of individual coffee cups over the years where no two are the same! It allows the pottery collector in me to keep having fun with small-investment pieces which are pretty harmless to the wallet. Colour is also not as crucial in this category (you can’t see what you are drinking anyway!) so feel free to go for bolder colours. In my afore-mentioned mug collection, I have a mix of terracotta, green and even black cups (wild, I know!)
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6. Go Vintage
Flea markets and car boot sales are great places to find very affordable and charming crockery, if that is your vibe. For some reason, I can’t resist little pouring jugs – I have a little family of them thrifted in various flea shop around the country (Rye, Deals and Bruton are amongst my favourite towns for Antique shopping). These finds may not be hand-made, agreed, but because of their age they are guaranteed to bring personality and uniqueness to your table.
Now for the good stuff.
Wonder where I have sourced any of the pieces above, and which are my go-to places and independent potters? I have compiled a list of just that for my loyal paying subscribers.
This is the moment where I ask you to consider becoming one of them. As a paying subscriber, you will have unlimited access to my whole archive (beyond the 8 weeks of free access), plus you will be able to access exclusive content, guides and lists (such as my Edits and Travel guides – currently in the making!).
More than that, you will be supporting my work and allow me to continue writing, thus earning my endless gratitude.
Ok, here comes the list!
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