The 7 questions about handmade ceramics I get all the time

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard:

“Can it go in the dishwasher?”

“Do you really make everything by hand?”

“Why is it so expensive?”

And that’s perfectly normal. Handmade ceramics spark curiosity and fascination, especially for those who’ve never touched clay before.

In this article, I’ve gathered the 7 most common questions I get about handmade ceramics in my Paris studio, in daily life, or during my classes.

And most importantly: I’ve answered them sincerely, with detail, care, and a touch of poetry.

1. Is it really handmade?

Yes, really. When I say handmade, I mean that each piece has been:

• shaped or wheel-thrown by hand

• refined, trimmed, glazed, and sanded

• fired once or twice: first around 980°C, then up to 1250°C

• checked, sorted, and signed

  
  

It wasn’t made by a machine or from an industrial mold. It’s the work of my two hands, my wheel, and my eye. So yes, sometimes pieces aren’t perfectly symmetrical. But they have a soul, a story, a human rhythm.

2. Is it dishwasher- and microwave-safe?

I always say: yes, but with nuance.

All my stoneware pieces are high-fired, which makes them strong, vitrified, and waterproof. So yes, they can safely go in the dishwasher or microwave.But… it’s like a pair of leather shoes: you can wear them in the rain, but if you take care of them, they’ll last much longer.

I always suggest avoiding sudden temperature shocks (for example, taking something straight from the oven and rinsing it with cold water), and handwashing from time to time. But yes, handmade ceramics belong in a real kitchen!

3. Why is it more expensive than IKEA?

Ah, the eternal question (and a fair one).

A handmade mug isn’t just a container. It’s:

• several hours of real work (including drying, firing, and finishing)

• carefully selected raw materials

• studio, electricity, and equipment costs

• years of acquired know-how

• a unique piece, unlike any other

So yes, an IKEA mug might cost €3. Mine might cost €35. But one is mass-produced, anonymous, and often without transparency. The other was imagined, thrown, fired, and glazed with intention. It will accompany you for years, and remind you that objects can carry stories.

4. How long does it take to make a piece?

A simple question… with a complex answer.

Let’s take a small cup, for example:

• Throwing: 15 min

• Drying: 1–2 days

• Trimming: 10 min

• First firing: 12h + cooling

• Glazing: 10–15 min

• Second firing: 13h

All in all, a piece takes about 7 to 10 days to come to life, not counting kiln schedules, weather, and organization. It passes through several stages: raw, dry, bisque, glazed, fired. It’s almost a miniature life cycle.

5. Is it fragile?

The word sounds scary, but in fact, stoneware is very strong, much more so than earthenware. It’s a dense clay, vitrified at high temperature. That’s why I chose to work with it: it resists thermal shock, and can safely go in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.

Of course, like any object, it can break if it falls on tiles. It’s not plastic, and that’s a good thing!

6. How do you choose your handmade ceramic piece?

I always say: let your hands choose.

Touch it, turn it, hold it. The right piece is the one that speaks to you, that makes you want to use it, to drink from it, to give it as a gift.Handmade ceramics aren’t meant to be perfect; they’re meant to create emotion.

Look at the small details: the grain of the glaze, the curve of the handle, the inside color.Sometimes, it’s the irregularities that make all the charm.

7. Can I make ceramics myself?

Yes! A thousand times yes!

I offer ceramics classes in Paris, in Ménilmontant, for the curious, the beginners, the shy, the enthusiastic.We learn to throw, to handbuild, to understand clay — at your own pace.Some come once, others discover a lifelong passion.

And often, once you’ve had clay in your hands, you’ll never look at a bowl the same way again.

💬 Still have questions about handmade ceramics ? Or want to try for yourself?

Come and discover my ceramics classes in Paris Ménilmontant, from introductory handbuilding and wheel-throwing to 5-session or trimester courses.

👉 More info and registration: lucie-eleme.com

📍 Pottery / Ceramics classes in Paris Ménilmontant – Atelier Lucie Eleme