How to care for handmade stoneware at home

Handmade stoneware is not fragile in the way that people sometimes assume. A well-fired piece at 1,250 degrees Celsius is denser and more durable than most commercial tableware. But there are a few habits worth developing if you want the piece to look its best after ten years of daily use, not just the first week.

The first month ¶

New stoneware from Fresh Citadel is dishwasher-safe, but Sakura recommends hand-washing for the first month. This is not about the clay body, which is fully vitrified and non-porous. It is about the glaze surface, which can take a few weeks of regular use to settle fully. After the first month, the pieces go in the dishwasher without any issues.

One thing to avoid in the first month is soaking the piece in water for extended periods. The foot ring on most pieces is unglazed, and while the clay body itself does not absorb water significantly at this firing temperature, prolonged soaking can leave a faint watermark on the bare clay. It disappears when the piece dries, but it is easy to avoid.

Everyday use ¶

The dinner plates and breakfast bowls are oven-safe up to 250 degrees Celsius. The yunomi teacups are not recommended for oven use because the thinner walls and smaller mass make them more vulnerable to thermal stress. All pieces are microwave-safe.

Stack plates and bowls with a cloth or paper between them if you are storing them in a tight cupboard. The combed texture on the bud vases can scratch the glaze surface of a plate stored directly against it. This is a minor point but worth mentioning if you are putting several pieces together in a small kitchen.

What changes over time ¶

The ash glaze on the breakfast bowls and jugs develops a very slight sheen with regular use and washing. This is normal and expected. The celadon on the dinner plates tends to stay consistent. The iron wash on the exterior of the bowls can lighten slightly over many years of dishwasher use; if you want to preserve the original depth of colour, occasional hand-washing is enough.

Stoneware does not need any special treatment or conditioning. Use it, wash it, put it away. The pieces that have been in daily use for the longest tend to be the ones that look the most interesting.

If you have a specific question about a piece you have bought from Fresh Citadel, you are welcome to email Sakura directly at hello@freshcitadel.com. She is happy to advise.