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What you are buying when a mug is handmade
A hand-thrown mug carries evidence of how it was made. Faint spiral throwing lines on the interior, a slightly uneven rim, a handle pulled and attached by hand so no two sit at quite the same angle. These are not flaws; they are the difference between a mug and a moulded object, and they are why handmade mugs feel different to hold even before you notice why.
Glaze is where most of the variation happens. The same glaze fired twice will break differently over the rim, pool differently in the base and shift shade depending on where the piece sat in the kiln. Expect the mug you receive to be recognisably the one in the photograph but not identical to it. If exact consistency matters — a matching set for a restaurant, say — handmade is the wrong category.
Practically, most studio pottery is stoneware fired high, which makes it dense, chip-resistant and excellent at holding heat. Nearly all of it is dishwasher and microwave safe unless there is exposed unglazed clay on the base, which can absorb water. Check the foot before the first wash: if it feels rough and unglazed, dry it properly rather than stacking it damp.
Handmade mug questions, answered
Will my handmade mug look exactly like the photo?
It will be the same design and glaze, but shade, glaze pooling and small proportions vary between pieces. That variation is inherent to hand-thrown work.
Are handmade pottery mugs dishwasher safe?
Most high-fired stoneware is. Avoid the dishwasher if the base is unglazed or if the mug has any metallic lustre applied after glazing.
Why is my handmade mug heavier than a shop mug?
Hand-thrown walls are usually thicker than machine-moulded ones. The upside is much better heat retention — handmade stoneware keeps coffee warm noticeably longer.
Can handmade mugs go in the microwave?
Yes, provided there is no metallic decoration. High-fired stoneware handles microwave use well; the handle can get warm because the body holds heat.
What is the difference between pottery and ceramic mugs?
Pottery is a subset of ceramic, generally meaning handmade or studio-produced pieces. All pottery mugs are ceramic; not all ceramic mugs are pottery.
Are small marks on the base a defect?
No. Small stilt marks or an unglazed foot ring are normal signs of how the piece was fired, and appear on almost all studio pottery.