Living With Handmade Ceramics: A Simple Care Guide

A handmade vase needs very little from you. A soft cloth now and then, a steady spot on the shelf, two hands when you move it. That's most of it.

Every Native Accents piece is hand-thrown on the wheel, then glazed and kiln-fired. Looked after well, a pot like this stays with you for a very long time, long after the trend it was bought for has moved on.

Here's how we look after ours.

Why handmade ceramics are different

Because each piece is shaped, glazed and fired one at a time, no two pots look exactly alike. A smooth glazed piece like the Aveline will feel different in the hand than a textured one like the Alba. A tall silhouette like the Bliss needs to be handled differently from a low, rounded one like the Abby.

Being handmade also means a few practical things:

Each piece is individual. Weight, height and form vary slightly from pot to pot, even within a set.

The base may not be perfectly flat. A slight wobble or a rougher patch on the glaze is normal. A felt pad sorts out the wobble (more on that below).

They're made for dry arrangements. Our pieces are for dried, preserved or faux stems, not water or fresh flowers. Keeping them dry is the single best thing you can do for them.

Daily care

Dust once a week. A soft dry cloth or a natural-hair brush is all you need. For smooth glazed pieces like the Maris or Aveline, a microfibre cloth works best. For textured pieces like the Alba or Olea, use a soft brush that can reach into the ridges and folds without catching. Skip feather dusters, as their tips can snag on textured glazes.

Choose a steady spot. Keep pieces back from table edges, where a stray elbow can catch them, and off speakers or appliances that vibrate. Tall pieces like the Bliss or the Arlo are top-heavy, so make sure the base sits fully on a flat surface.

Use felt pads. A small piece of felt or a soft coaster under the base protects both the pot and the surface underneath. This is especially useful on wooden furniture, which an uneven ceramic base can scratch.

Cleaning: gentle is the rule

When a pot needs more than a dusting, keep it soft, lukewarm and slow.

For smooth glazed pieces (like Aveline, Abby, Maris):

• A soft microfibre cloth dampened with lukewarm water
• A drop of mild dish soap if there is a stubborn mark
• Wipe in gentle circles, then dry straight away with a soft towel

For textured pieces (like Alba, Olea, Aria Dipped):

• A soft-bristled brush works better than a cloth
• Lukewarm water, no soap unless truly needed
• Pat dry with a cotton towel rather than wiping, so the texture stays intact

For stubborn marks:

• Make a paste of baking soda and water
• Apply with your fingers, wait one minute, then wipe off with a damp cloth
• Dry thoroughly

What to avoid:

• Harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia
• Abrasive scrubbers, steel wool or the rough side of a sponge
• Dishwashers, even for pieces that look sturdy
• Sudden temperature changes (hot water on a cold pot can cause hairline cracks)

Our pieces are made as décor objects and aren't meant to hold water, so keep them for dried flowers, preserved stems or artificial blooms. Narrow-neck pieces like the Aveline or Bliss are perfect for a single dried stem.

Handling and moving

Always lift a piece with both hands, one supporting the base. Never lift by the neck or rim alone. Even a sturdy-looking vase is most delicate at the top, especially tall pieces like the Bliss or Arlo, where the weight sits high.

When moving a pot from one room to another, take out any stems first. Anything inside makes a piece harder to carry safely.

If you're storing a piece for a while, wrap it loosely in a soft cotton cloth or acid-free tissue. Skip newspaper, as the ink can transfer to the glaze. Keep wrapped pieces somewhere cool and dry, away from windows and heaters.

When something chips or cracks

Handmade ceramics can chip, even with careful owners. What to do depends on the damage.

If a piece arrives damaged: get in touch and we'll put it right. Orders placed on our website also receive a complimentary piece from us.

A tiny rim chip: often blends in after a few weeks. In Japan, the practice of kintsugi treats chips and cracks as part of a piece's story, sometimes even tracing them in gold. If the chip is small, you may find you're happy to leave it be.

A hairline crack: keep the piece dry and out of the way of knocks. It can carry on as a décor piece or a holder for dried stems.

A larger break: ceramic epoxy from a hardware store can rejoin the pieces well enough for display. For a piece you treasure, a professional restorer can often repair it beautifully.

Living with handmade

These pieces were made to be lived with. A small mark from a moving day, the way the glaze looks different in morning and evening light: over time, that's what makes a pot feel like yours.

Our textured pots, like the Alba and Olea, suit this kind of slow, everyday ownership especially well. If you're just starting your collection, our Pairs & Trios are an easy way to begin, with pieces chosen to sit well together.

A quick weekly checklist

• Run a soft dry cloth over each piece
• Dust or refresh any dried stems
• Nudge anything near a table edge back toward the centre
• Check felt pads are still in place

Four small things, about five minutes a week. A cloth, a steady shelf and a little attention: that's genuinely all they need.

Explore our full range → Handmade Ceramic Vases and Pots