Each piece of pottery is individually handmade. This means that there are never two pieces exactly the same. There are always some minor variations. This shows the hand of the artist and does not deflect from the value of the piece. It actually adds to its charm. Scan a piece of hand painted pottery and you might find a partial fingerprint, a small speck of paint out of place, a slight smudge in the glaze, or a loose fitting lid – evidence of handcrafted work and part of what makes it unique.
With repeated use, majolica has a tendency to “craze” (form tiny lines in the glaze). This has no effect on the durability of the item. There are ways to help minimize crazing. Always avoid drastic temperature change. Ceramic has a tendency to absorb cold. If you place hot food on a cold platter it may craze or even break. Running warm water over the piece before filling it with food will protect it from breaking. You can also place a metal spoon in your mug or teapot when pouring in hot liquid. The metal will absorb the heat, thus protecting your ceramics.
Maiolica can go in the dishwasher, but we recommend hand washing. If you want to use your dishwasher, use the “fine china” setting or low energy. Be sure to load the items with enough space between them so that they won’t hit together.
Our ceramics are food safe. They have met with FDA standards and are approved for use with food.
Maiolica should not be used in the conventional or microwave oven. The microwave oven tends to heat up the ceramic and not the food or liquid.