How to Care for Handmade Glazed Ceramics
Caring for Handmade Glazed Ceramics the Right Way
Handmade glazed ceramics are made to be used, not hidden away in a cabinet. Because each piece is shaped and glazed by hand, though, it rewards a little extra attention. This guide covers washing, storing and everyday use, so your handmade Moroccan pottery keeps its depth of colour and character for years to come.
Why Handmade Ceramics Deserve Gentle Care
Every SAFIOLI piece is shaped by hand on a spinning wheel in Safi, Morocco, then decorated and glazed before firing — often through several glazings and several firings. That slow process is what gives the glaze its depth, and it is also why no two pieces are ever identical. Small variations in tone or texture are a mark of authenticity, not a defect. Caring for the glaze thoughtfully is simply a way of honouring the hours of craft behind each object.
Understand what a glaze is
A glaze is a thin, glass-like layer fused to the clay in the kiln. It is what gives Safi ceramics their luminous turquoise, green and ochre tones. Like any glass surface, it prefers gradual change to sudden shocks — both of temperature and of impact. Keep that single idea in mind and most of the care that follows becomes intuitive.
How to Wash Handmade Moroccan Ceramics
Hand washing is the safest choice for handmade glazed pottery, and it is essential for pieces with hand-punched relief or gold detailing, such as those in the ZAYNA collection.
- Wash by hand in warm — never boiling — water with a mild dish soap.
- Use a soft sponge or cloth rather than abrasive scourers or steel wool, which dull the glaze over time.
- Skip harsh or bleach-based cleaners; they are unnecessary and can attack decorative finishes.
- Let a piece cool to room temperature before it meets water — a hot dish plunged into cold water can crack.
- Dry with a soft towel instead of leaving pieces to knock together in a rack.
Pieces finished with 10-carat gold detailing deserve particular restraint: keep them away from the dishwasher entirely, because heat and detergent gradually wear precious-metal finishes down.
Dealing with marks and metal traces
Cutlery can occasionally leave faint grey lines on a glazed surface. These are not scratches in the glaze but soft metal deposits, and they usually lift with a little bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth, rubbed gently and rinsed. For stubborn tea or coffee staining inside cups and teapots, a warm soak with bicarbonate of soda works better — and more safely — than any abrasive scrubbing.
Storing Your Collection Safely
Most chips happen in the cupboard, not at the table. A few simple habits protect your pieces, whether they are everyday table settings or occasional showpieces.
- Slip a felt pad, napkin or sheet of paper between stacked plates and bowls to prevent glaze-on-glaze scratching.
- Never rest heavy platters on delicate cups, boxes or bonbonnières.
- Hang or stand mugs rather than forcing them to nest tightly.
- Store a tagine with its lid slightly offset so air can circulate.
Microwave, oven and dishwasher
Because our pieces are handmade and some carry metallic finishes, treat them as serving and decorative ware rather than cookware unless a specific product page says otherwise. Metallic or gold-detailed pieces should never go in the microwave. When you are unsure, follow the guidance on the product page rather than assuming a piece is dishwasher- or oven-safe — a moment's caution protects years of use.
Everyday Use, from the First Day
New handmade ceramics benefit from a gentle start. Rinse a piece in warm water before its first use to clear any workshop dust. Avoid setting a piece straight from a hot oven onto a cold stone or metal surface; let temperatures change slowly. And do not worry about the faint texture you can sometimes feel under a hand-decorated surface — it is the trace of the artisan's brush and punch, part of what makes the object one of a kind.
A Little Care, Years of Pleasure
Handmade Moroccan pottery is remarkably durable when it is treated with respect. Wash it by hand, cushion it in storage, let temperatures shift gently, and keep gold and metallic finishes away from the dishwasher and microwave. Do that, and your pieces will carry the light of Safi to your table for many years — growing more personal with every meal they serve.
