Ceramic Care Guide
Updated: Sep 4
How to Use, Wash, Dry, and Store Hand-Built Sejnane Tableware
Chmissa’s ceramic tableware is formed and marked by hand before being dried and fired outdoors. Each piece should be handled according to its documented use and protected from sudden temperature changes, abrasive cleaning, impact, and prolonged moisture.
The essential rule is simple: hand wash gently, dry thoroughly, avoid appliances and direct heat, and stop using any piece that becomes cracked, broken, unstable, or otherwise concerning.
This guide applies to the Zerka Plate, Hout Plate, Zephyr Bowl, and Storka Bowl currently represented in the artisan ceramic tableware collection. Always follow the most specific guidance provided on the individual product page.
Care at a Glance
Situation | Guidance |
Washing | Wash by hand with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth |
Drying | Rinse and dry thoroughly before storing |
Dishwasher | Do not use |
Microwave | Do not use |
Oven | Do not use |
Stovetop or direct flame | Never use |
Freezer | Do not use |
Boiling liquids | Do not pour directly into a cold piece |
Soaking | Avoid prolonged soaking |
Stacking | Use soft separators and avoid excessive weight |
Crack, chip, or loose material | Stop using the piece and contact Customer Care |
Uncertain mark or condition | Photograph it and request guidance |
Quick Guide
Before First Use
Inspect a new piece in good light before washing or serving with it.
Look at the complete object rather than concentrating only on one surface area. Check the rim, walls, base, and any projecting or shaped details. Confirm that no material is loose, detached, or broken and that the object can rest securely on an appropriate flat surface.
Before first use:
Inspect the complete piece.
Check its rim, sides, and base.
Confirm that no material is loose or broken.
Hand wash it with mild dish soap and a soft sponge.
Rinse it thoroughly.
Dry it completely.
Review its product page for any additional instructions.
If the object arrived cracked, chipped, broken, or seriously unstable, do not use it. Keep the object and its packaging together, photograph their condition, and contact Customer Care.
Washing and Drying
Hand Washing
Wash each piece by hand with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth. Use water at a comfortable temperature rather than exposing the object to very hot or very cold water.
Support the piece securely while washing it. Where practical, wash one ceramic object at a time so it does not collide with cutlery, taps, the sink, or other dishes.
Do not leave a piece beneath heavier objects in the sink. Contact between hard surfaces can damage a rim or edge even when the ceramic has otherwise been handled carefully.
What to Avoid
Do not use:
Steel wool
Abrasive pads
Scouring powders
Harsh cleaning chemicals
Forceful scraping
Sharp tools
Unverified stain-removal products
Homemade cleaning treatments not confirmed for the particular surface
A treatment commonly used on another ceramic object may not be appropriate for these pieces. Ceramic materials, surface treatments, and firing methods are not interchangeable.
Drying
Rinse away all soap and dry the piece with a soft, clean cloth. Let any remaining moisture evaporate before placing it in a cupboard or stack.
Pay attention to the base and any area where moisture could remain. Do not place a damp piece directly beneath another ceramic object or store it in a closed space before it has dried completely.
Heat and Temperature Changes
Avoid exposing the ceramic to sudden or extreme changes in temperature.
Do not:
Pour boiling liquid directly into a cold piece
Transfer a refrigerated piece immediately to hot food
Place a warm object on a very cold stone or metal surface
Apply cold water to a warm piece
Move a piece directly between cold storage and heat
Use the object to cook or reheat food
Let the ceramic return naturally to room temperature if it has been kept in a cool environment. Allow very hot food to settle before transferring it into the serving piece.
A dry cloth, mat, or appropriate table surface can protect the object from abrupt contact with a markedly different surface temperature. Do not attempt to preheat it in an appliance or through very hot water.
The collection does not have a published maximum temperature. Care should therefore be based on its documented serving role rather than an assumed heat limit.
Dishwasher, Microwave, Oven, and Freezer
Dishwasher
Do not put the pieces in a dishwasher.
Dishwasher cycles expose tableware to prolonged heat, detergents, forceful water, movement, and possible contact with other objects. Wash the ceramics individually by hand instead.
Microwave
Do not use the pieces in a microwave.
The collection has not been presented as microwave-safe. Heat food in a container intended for microwave use and transfer it afterwards.
Oven
Do not place the pieces in an oven.
They are serving forms rather than baking vessels. This restriction also applies to warming an empty piece in an oven.
Stovetop and Direct Flame
Never place the pieces on a gas burner, electric hob, induction surface, charcoal, grill, or any other direct heat source.
Freezer
Do not use the pieces in a freezer. Avoid transitions between freezing conditions and room-temperature or warm contents.
If a piece has been kept in a refrigerator, allow it to return naturally to room temperature before use. Do not accelerate the change with hot water or another heat source.
Everyday Serving
Use each object only for the serving role described on its product page. These pieces are not cookware, reheating vessels, or long-term food-storage containers.
The Zerka Plate provides a broad centre for an individual meal. The larger Hout Plate is intended for food shared around the table. The deeper Zephyr Bowl offers greater containment, while the lower and more open Storka Bowl keeps shared dishes visible and accessible.
During use:
Place the object on a stable surface.
Lift it rather than dragging it across a table.
Avoid striking the rim with heavy utensils.
Do not cut forcefully against the surface.
Carry larger pieces securely, using both hands where appropriate.
Do not overload a piece or use it to carry excessive weight.
Stop using it if its condition becomes concerning.
The term “handmade ceramic” does not describe one universal level of appliance, temperature, or impact resistance. Apply the guidance written for this collection rather than instructions intended for another type of pottery.
Marks, Stains, and Odours
Individually made ceramics may show differences in tone, texture, painted lines, and decorative placement before use. These should be distinguished from residue, staining, damage, or a condition that develops afterwards.
Begin with Gentle Cleaning
If a new mark appears:
Wash the piece with mild dish soap and a soft sponge.
Rinse away the soap thoroughly.
Dry the object completely.
Reinspect the area in good light.
Do not move automatically to baking soda, vinegar, bleach, scouring powder, metal-mark remover, or another household treatment. A more aggressive cleaning method may change a matte or individually treated surface.
When to Seek Guidance
Ask for guidance if:
A mark remains after gentle washing
The surface appears to be changing
An odour persists after washing and drying
Material appears to flake, soften, or loosen
Darkening appears alongside a crack or other damage
You cannot tell whether a line is decorative, superficial, or structural
A visible characteristic cannot always be assigned a precise cause from appearance alone. The Handmade Ceramic Variation guide can help distinguish expected differences from conditions that need closer assessment.
Stacking and Storage
Stacking
Use a soft, clean separator between stacked pieces. A piece of plain paper, felt, or soft cloth can reduce direct contact between ceramic surfaces.
Keep stacks low and stable. Avoid placing excessive weight on the lower object, especially where rims or walls do not align evenly.
Lift pieces apart instead of dragging one surface across another. Confirm that each object is completely dry before stacking it.
Storage Environment
Store the pieces on a stable, dry shelf with enough space to lift them safely.
Avoid:
Overcrowded shelves
Unstable stacks
Placement near a shelf edge
Heavy objects resting above delicate rims
Storage while damp
Arrangements that require one piece to be pulled from beneath several others
Separate storage is preferable when a piece cannot sit securely within a stack.
Chips, Cracks, and Other Damage
Slight differences in form, tone, or decoration may belong to handmade variation. Damage, sharp edges, loose material, serious instability, and uncertain cracks require a different response.
Stop Using the Piece If You Notice
A crack through the ceramic body
A newly broken or chipped edge
A sharp exposed area
Loose or flaking material
A detached fragment
Serious rocking or instability
A condition that appears to be growing or changing
Any feature that makes continued use uncertain
Do not dismiss such conditions as evidence that the object was made by hand.
Do Not Test It Yourself
Do not investigate a questionable piece through:
Boiling water
Heating
Microwaving
Oven use
Prolonged soaking
Tapping or impact
Pressure applied to the affected area
Abrasive cleaning
Do not use glue, epoxy, filler, sanding, or a decorative repair as a basis for returning an object to serving use. The repair materials and completed condition would need to be appropriate for the intended function.
If you are uncertain, stop using the piece and contact Customer Care.
Care by Product
Product | Documented role | Care emphasis |
Individual plate with rising walls | Support its base while washing and protect the shaped rim from impact | |
Larger plate for shared dishes | Lift it with both hands and avoid carrying excessive weight | |
Deeper bowl offering greater containment | Support its body securely while washing and do not use it for boiling liquids | |
Lower, more open bowl for shared dishes | Protect its broad rim and avoid pressure from heavy stacked objects |
These reminders supplement the general care rules and any additional instructions on the Zerka Plate, Hout Plate, Zephyr Bowl, and Storka Bowl product pages.
Why These Instructions Are Specific
Chmissa personally makes all four forms in Sejnane. She gathers and prepares the clay, builds each object directly by hand without a potter’s wheel, applies its surface treatment and markings, and participates in its drying and outdoor firing.
The pieces share a broader pottery practice, but they are individually formed rather than mechanically reproduced. Their exact rims, walls, surfaces, and decorative placement can therefore differ.
This context explains why the objects may not appear mechanically uniform. It does not remove the need for clear condition and care standards.
What to Do If You Are Unsure
If a piece raises a condition or safety concern:
Stop using it if necessary.
Review its product description and this care guide.
Photograph the complete object.
Photograph the area of concern closely.
Include the rim, side, and base where relevant.
Retain the packaging if the issue may involve delivery.
Contact Customer Care with the photographs and your order details.
Clear photographs from several angles are more useful than a single enlarged image without the context of the whole object.
Do not continue using a questionable piece while waiting for clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I wash handmade ceramic tableware?
Wash it by hand with mild dish soap and a soft sponge or cloth. Rinse thoroughly and dry it completely before storage.
Can Chmissa’s ceramics go in the dishwasher?
No. The Zerka Plate, Hout Plate, Zephyr Bowl, and Storka Bowl should be washed by hand.
Are the pieces microwave-safe?
They have not been presented as microwave-safe and should not be used in a microwave.
Can they go in the oven?
No. They are serving forms rather than ovenware or baking vessels.
Can they be used over direct flame?
No. Never place them on a stovetop, burner, grill, charcoal, or another direct heat source.
Can they go in the freezer?
No. Do not freeze the pieces or subject them to freezer-to-warm transitions.
Can I pour boiling liquid into a bowl?
Do not pour boiling liquid directly into a cold piece. These bowls should not be treated as heat-resistant cooking or reheating vessels.
Can the ceramics be soaked?
Avoid prolonged soaking. Wash, rinse, and dry each piece without leaving it submerged for an extended period.
How should I stack the pieces?
Dry them completely, place a soft separator between them, keep stacks low, and avoid excessive weight on lower pieces.
How do I remove a cutlery mark or stain?
Begin with mild dish soap and a soft sponge. If the mark remains, contact Customer Care before applying an abrasive or household treatment.
Is tonal variation a problem?
Not automatically. Tone may differ across individually made pieces. A new or changing area accompanied by cracking, looseness, persistent odour, or another concern requires assessment.
Can I continue using a chipped piece?
Stop using a newly chipped piece, especially if the edge is sharp or material has broken away. Contact Customer Care for guidance.
What should I do if I notice a crack?
Stop using the object. Do not heat, soak, tap, or place pressure on it. Photograph the complete piece and the affected area, then contact Customer Care.
Does handmade variation change the care instructions?
No. Variation may explain differences in form, tone, or decoration, but it does not replace the collection’s care limits.
Where can I find product-specific guidance?
Review the page for the Zerka Plate, Hout Plate, Zephyr Bowl, or Storka Bowl. Product-specific instructions take precedence over general guidance.
Explore the Wider Context
Place these care instructions within the wider Sejnane pottery tradition.
Understand Handmade Variation
Learn which differences may occur between individually made pieces and which visible conditions deserve closer assessment.
Follow the Making Process
See how locally gathered clay is prepared, shaped without a wheel, marked, dried, and fired outdoors.
Meet Chmissa
Learn how Chmissa’s practice developed through watching her mother and participating in every principal stage of pottery production.
Explore the Collection
Compare the four hand-built plates and bowls currently represented in the Artisan Ceramic Tableware collection.
