Eliot Arts tableware comes in a variety of colors and patterns, but each piece is intended to have its own bit of individuality, even within a single batch. These free-form plates and bowls are able to complement a variety of spaces and work well as a single-dish gift for friends or family, or as an entire dish set at home. All of the pieces are created from mid-fire clays from a well-known and historically trusted clay company, and are fired until vitrified (which means the clay has reached its final form, will have very minimal water absorption, and is safe for food). Batches are small — no more than four place settings are fired at any one time — which allows for more experimentation with glazes and details.
Should you have interest in a dish, place setting, or a larger order, please reach out via the Contact page to start a conversation. After final decisions on colors, shape and pattern, the process can take from 3-8 weeks, depending on the current workload and how many pieces you would like. First, the clay must be formed and slowly dried. This is the longest part of the process and can take a week (or sometimes a bit longer). Then the piece(s) are fired to just under 1900F. After completely cooling in the kiln (which typically takes about 24 hours), they are pulled out and glazed, followed by the final firing, which will take these clay pieces on a journey to over 2150F degrees. Again, the kiln must cool completely (this can take 36-48 hours depending on a variety of factors), and then the final product can be pulled and prepared for the new owner.
If you’ve had the opportunity to view these dishes in person you likely noticed that each piece forms a bit differently from one to the next. One dish might have slightly different ridges or lips from its similar-looking neighbor piece, or be ever so slightly larger or smaller. While this makes for a wonderful bit of variety in life, the owner should expect these nuances. For approximate size information:
Large Plates: 10-11 inches in diameter
Small Plates: 8-9 inches in diameter
Small Bowls: 6-7 inches in diameter
Shallow Bowls/Bread/Dessert Plates: 6-7 inches in diameter
Occasionally, larger bowls are made and those measurements can be found in the information for that item.
Ceramic tableware is beautiful and sturdy, and truly doesn’t need to be treated with kid gloves; however, if you want to keep your new dishes looking their best, here are some care and other suggestions:
These pieces are food safe. They can be used for decorative and functional purposes.
This particular work is “free-form,” meaning no two pieces will be exactly the same. This is intentional and part of the beauty of the work. If you’re looking for a perfectly stacked set of dishes, these may not be the right choice for your needs (which is okay - we all have our personal likes and needs).
Although this ceramic work is microwave safe, it is recommended that the time heated is limited to a few minutes to help prolong its life.
Sudden changes from hot to cold (and vice versa) can weaken ceramic wares. This can cause cracks, and while unsightly, can more importantly cause bacteria to form under the glaze. Slower heating/cooling is always better for ceramics.
Pieces may be washed in the dishwasher. As with any handmade, ceramic dishware, it will stay better looking and possibly have a longer life when it is gently hand washed with a sponge, soap and water. If you intend to use the dishwasher, try to keep some space between dishes and other items, and prevent dishes from touching one another as much as possible. This will assist in the prevention of unwanted scratches forming.
The undersides of these ceramic pieces are unglazed. If possible, use a buffer (such as a paper towel or a thin piece of foam between pieces when stacking, or store them vertically in a dish rack to prevent unwanted scratches.