A good mug should feel right in your hand, but a good pottery purchase also needs to hold up to daily use. At a market stall, everything looks appealing under the lights. The difference between a piece you reach for every morning and one that sits at the back of the cupboard often comes down to details the seller can explain: the clay, the glaze, the firing, and how the maker expects you to care for it. You do not need to become a potter to buy well. You need a few direct questions and enough time to listen to the answers.
These seven questions are designed for real market conversations, not an exam. Ask them politely, compare answers, and let your hands do some of the checking too. A confident maker will welcome the interest; a vague answer is useful information as well. The goal is not to interrogate anyone, but to understand whether the piece matches the way you actually live.
Earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain behave differently in daily life. Earthenware is often lower-fired, can be more porous unless glazed carefully, and may be less forgiving with heat. Stoneware is generally denser and more durable for everyday plates and mugs. Porcelain can be elegant and strong, but thin pieces need thoughtful handling. The name alone does not guarantee quality, but it tells you what to expect.
Firing matters just as much. Ask whether the piece was bisque-fired and then glaze-fired, and whether it was fired to maturity for that clay. A maker may use a kiln at home or a shared studio; that is fine. What you want is a clear sense that the clay and glaze were fired together properly. If the seller says only that it is “clay” or “high-fired” without knowing more, treat that as a prompt to ask a follow-up, not a reason to walk away. They may be a reseller rather than the maker; ask if they can check with the studio. What matters is whether the answer is specific enough to connect the clay, glaze, and firing temperature.
For mugs, bowls, plates, and serving pieces, food safety is not a small detail. Ask whether the glaze is food-safe and whether the maker uses a liner glaze on the inside of the piece. Some decorative glazes are beautiful but not intended for contact with food, especially on rims or interiors. If you are buying a vase, that may not matter; if you are buying a mug, it matters every morning.
You can also ask whether the glaze has been tested or used in a studio that routinely makes food-safe ware. A good answer will usually mention the glaze type, the firing temperature, and any limitations, such as “hand wash only” or “not for acidic foods.” If the seller cannot tell you whether a piece is food-safe, do not assume it is just because it looks finished. Use it as a decorative piece or keep looking. For pieces you plan to use with coffee, soup, or salad, clarity is worth more than charm.
Run your fingers gently around the rim and handle. Look at the inside of the bowl and the foot ring underneath. Crazing—the fine network of cracks in a glaze—can be intentional and quite beautiful, but on a food-contact surface it can sometimes be a concern, especially on more porous clay. Pitting, small holes in the glaze, can trap food or moisture. Sharp edges on a rim, handle, or foot can chip or feel unpleasant in use.
Ask the maker whether any of these features are intentional and how they affect care. A potter might say, “That crazing is part of the glaze and the piece is still food-safe,” or “That is a second because of the pit near the rim; I would use it for dry goods.” Either answer is useful. What you want is honesty, not a perfect surface. Handmade pottery often has character, but character should not mean hidden problems.
A pot can look wonderful on a shelf and feel awkward in the hand. Ask to hold the piece. Check the weight, the balance, and the handle. Does the mug fit your fingers? Is the lip comfortable to drink from? Does the plate feel stable, or does it wobble on a flat surface? For a teapot, ask about pouring; for a bowl, consider whether it is deep enough for soup or shallow enough for pasta.
Dimensions matter too. A mug that holds twelve ounces may sound generous, but if it is too wide for your cupboard or too heavy when full, you may not use it. Ask for capacity in ounces or milliliters, and ask whether the piece is dishwasher or microwave safe if those are part of your routine. The best pottery purchase is not the most dramatic piece in the booth. It is the one that fits your hand, your shelf, and your habits.
Care instructions are part of the purchase. Ask whether the piece should be hand washed, whether it can go in the dishwasher, and whether it is microwave safe. Pottery with metallic luster, delicate handles, or certain glazes may need gentler treatment. Thermal shock is another issue: pouring boiling water into a cold mug or moving a hot dish to a cold counter can cause cracks. A good maker will tell you what they do with their own pieces.
Storage matters too. Stacking heavy plates directly on a delicate glaze can leave marks or chips. Ask whether the maker recommends felt pads, plate separators, or simple hand washing and air drying. These details may sound fussy, but they are exactly the kind of information that keeps a piece in use for years instead of months.
If you are buying in person, ask how the maker handles chips or flaws that appear with normal use. If you are ordering online, ask about packaging and what happens if the piece arrives damaged. A serious maker will usually have a clear answer: double-boxed shipping, photos required for claims, or a repair option. Some potters offer mending advice, and some may repair a piece themselves. Others sell seconds at a reduced price with the understanding that the flaw is permanent.
This question also helps you understand the maker’s standards. A seller who says, “I stand behind my work, and here is how to reach me,” is offering more than a transaction. A seller who shrugs and says, “That is handmade,” may still be honest, but you should adjust your expectations. Handmade does not mean disposable, and it does not mean every flaw is your problem.
Ask who made the piece and where it was fired. Look for a signature, stamp, or maker’s mark on the bottom. This is not just romance; it helps you contact the maker later, compare work, and build a collection with intention. If you are buying from a reseller, ask where the work comes from and whether they can share the studio’s information.
Price is worth discussing respectfully. Handmade pottery carries the cost of clay, glaze, kiln firing, studio rent, time, and failure. A mug may take an hour of active work plus weeks of drying and firing, and not every piece survives the kiln. Ask what makes a particular piece more expensive: a complex glaze, a large size, a difficult form, or a famous maker. You do not need to haggle hard at a market stall. Ask, listen, and decide whether the piece is worth it to you. A fair price is one you understand and can live with.
A good answer does not need to be technical, but it should be specific. It sounds like this: “This is a stoneware mug, fired to cone six. The inside glaze is food-safe, and I recommend hand washing to keep the surface bright. It is microwave safe, but avoid sudden temperature changes.” That tells you what the piece is, how to use it, and where the limits are.
“I made this one, I fired it in my studio, and here is how I would care for it.” Those are simple words, but they carry a lot of information.
If an answer is vague, ask one gentle follow-up and see whether the seller becomes more precise. Sometimes a busy market stall makes conversation difficult, and a second question is all it takes. If the vagueness continues, let that guide you. You are not just buying an object; you are buying a set of expectations about how it will behave in your home. The right questions help you make that choice with your eyes open and your hands informed.
Photo: Dezetter / Pixabay
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