Pottery goes back centuries as an expressive form of art that has added joy to everyday human life in cultures all over the world. Beyond its role as aesthetic decoration, pottery provides functional utility in everything from rustic handmade plates and bowls to elegant flower pots and vases. If this beautiful art form has caught your eye, here are a few tips to use in finding pottery for your home.
5 Tips for Finding Pottery for Your Home
1. Find a Story to Connect With
Having art in our homes is a form of visual storytelling, crafting a narrative about who we are that can serve multiple functions. Sometimes a mere glance can remind us of our personal values, and visitors to your home will enjoy hearing the stories behind your collection. Pottery encompasses everything from earthy ceramics to modern GFRC designs, meaning each person can find an aesthetic connection to help tell their own unique story.
Beyond this aesthetic connection, many enjoy learning about the artists who made the handcrafted pottery they are so drawn to. Quite often, there is something in a potter’s story or ideology that resonates with us in a way that we may have sensed, but could not put into words. When seeking out pottery for home decor, look for a piece that tells a meaningful story, whether it’s through simple aesthetic values or a physical reminder of a deeper ideology.
2. Bring Excitement to Ordinary Moments
As with any piece of fine art, ceramics can add a valuable moment of pleasure to the most mundane daily at-home routines. As you look for pieces of pottery, think about your daily habits and where a creative piece of pottery might impart a dash of artistic inspiration. Starting with an easy example, why not enjoy your morning cup of coffee or tea in a beautiful handcrafted ceramic mug?
A fired-clay pot with fresh flowers or plants can add lively color to any room, and that stunning platter you picked up on vacation in Europe provides wonderful memories as you look up from the book you’re reading. At dinner, enjoy a home-cooked meal served on modern ceramic tableware, soft light glowing from handcrafted candlesticks. Look for any opportunities to add these earthy elements that both inspire and recall pleasant memories.
3. Begin With Smaller Pieces
There is no question that handcrafted pottery is beautiful to look at, but much of the joy we experience comes from our sense of touch. After all, this is art that is made to be held while serving a practical function. As you begin collecting pottery, try seeking out smaller pieces that fit in your hands so you can get a sense of what you are really drawn to in terms of design, textures, and colors.
Once you develop a strong sense of what you really like, it’s a lot less risky to purchase larger pieces. The idea here is to avoid purchasing a large piece of pottery, then getting it home and realizing a few days later that it’s really not what you were looking for. You can avoid expensive mistakes like this by simply starting small.
4. It Doesn’t Always Have to Match
A matching set of modern ceramics can certainly make an elegant statement, but this is just one of many ways to display pottery. Instead of that matching set, for instance, you could purchase different pieces that share one common element, such as a particular color range or texture. Or you could go for a more eclectic look with pieces that are completely unmatched but somehow achieve the style you want.
In addition to color and texture, pay attention to things like design patterns and glossy versus matte finishes to see which combine best according to your own taste. You can also try mixing pieces that have a more vintage look with others that are newer to create an interesting contrast.
5. Don’t Forget About Function
All pottery is not created equal, especially when it comes to functionality. If you are seeking a piece of pottery that needs to perform a certain function, be sure to explain this to your preferred potter or pottery dealer.
For instance, you might need a particular type of material or finishing technique if you plan on exposing your pottery to thermal shock, such as cookware that will be placed over an open flame. The same goes for pots that are designed to hold plants or flowers, as some materials are better suited for this than others.
Handcrafted pottery is a beautiful touch of art that can add inspiration to the otherwise ordinary routines of daily life. Beyond mere aesthetic beauty, it also performs important functions in every room of the house. Keep these tips in mind as you search for unique pieces of pottery to enrich your space and make life more beautiful.
