15 Amateur Potter-Recommended Ceramics, From $4

I took my first pottery class when I was just 9 years old, and it’s been an on-and-off passion for me over the last two decades. I even made more than 50 dishes, vases, spoon rests, and cups as favors for my wedding. Whether hand-building an egg tray or throwing a chip-and-dip bowl on the wheel, I love creating one-of-a-kind — sometimes wonky — handmade pottery that I can use on my table or gift to someone else. And I’ve become a bit of a pottery collector, too. 

If you want to add a pop of color to your dinner party or jazz up your coffee bar, I have plenty of recommendations for ceramic mugs, pasta bowls, an oyster plate, and more dishes. Here are 15 items on my wish list, including East Fork, Farmhouse Pottery, and Mason Cash, starting at just $4.

Best Amateur Potter-Recommended Ceramics

• East Fork The Mug, $44 at eastfork.com
• Mason Cash In The Meadow Stoneware Mixing Bowl, $43 at amazon.com 
• Sarah Kersten Studio Small Fermentation Jar, $140 at coyuchi.com 
• Farmhouse Pottery Stoneware Beehive Crock, $145 at westelm.com 
• Free Yourself Feu/Fire Candle, $98 at amazon.com 

East Fork The Mug

East Fork’s quintessential mug is stylish and sturdy, made with regionally sourced clay in Asheville, North Carolina. The chunky 12-ounce mug is Aeropress-compatible, or you can buy a perfectly fitted brewing basket. It’s available in a variety of core colors, like the classic speckled eggshell, a seasonal glossy sepia, and a stunning Matisse design.

Sarah Kersten Studio Small Fermentation Jar

I’m the proud owner of the Sarah Kersten Studio Fermentation Jar, which features an ancient design that uses a waterlock to stop fermented vegetables from being exposed to the air. The small 2-quart jar is a great size for apartment kitchens and comes in a beautiful glossy white and matte fig glaze. I love the unique shape so much that I find myself displaying the fermentation crock even when it’s not in use.

Mason Cash In The Meadow Stoneware Mixing Bowl

Mason Cash has been selling its beautiful earthenware mixing bowls for 124 years. The durable, lightweight bowls come in a variety of designs, including a minimalist Rustic Charm Collection and forest-inspired design, but the whimsical In The Meadow Collection always catches my eye, with its embossed floral texture.

Julo Blue and White Dinner Plate

Full disclosure: These stoneware dinner plates were on my wedding registry, so I may be biased. However, I love the fluid glaze that seems to melt around the plate’s rim, revealing a beautiful speckled center, making each plate unique. They’re made in Portugal and are safe to use in the dishwasher, oven, and microwave. Plus, they haven’t chipped in the six months I’ve used them, and I like that no dish’s shape is exactly the same.

Free Yourself Feu/Fire Candle

I try to buy candles in reusable containers, and I’ve been enjoying this one from Free Yourself that’s housed in a Farmhouse Pottery vessel. It looks as good on a coffee table as it does on my kitchen counter, thanks to the organic throwing lines and sleek white glaze. And notes of cinnamon, clove, and neroli make it a great kitchen candle for the winter season.

Haand Pair of Tapered Mugs

If you want to collect pottery, coffee mugs are a great place to start because they don’t take up much space, and you can easily mix and match them. Haand’s tapered mugs are classic and elegant, and they’re handmade at the brand’s North Carolina studio. This 2-piece set comes with your choice of four colors: matte white, burl, concrete, or birch.

The Rowen Portuguese Stoneware Pasta Bowls, Set of 4

Ceramic pasta bowls are much more versatile than their name implies — they’re great for eating soups, salads, and even scrambled eggs. I’ve been eyeing the deep blue, glossy glaze on this 4-piece set, and I like the way the straight rims stack together. The bowls are made in Portugal and are dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

Coton Colors by Laura Johnson Oyster Half Dozen Platter

It’s certainly not an everyday plate, but this colorful oyster platter would be a lively conversation starter at your next dinner party. Made by a woman-owned brand, the ceramic dish holds six oysters and your preferred sauce or garnish. You can also use it as an antipasto platter or a chip-and-dip bowl.

Our Place Dinner Bowls, 4-Pack

I love this bowl-and-plate combo from Our Place that’s ideal for serving salads, pasta, or rice-based meals. The handcrafted bowls won’t chip, are dishwasher-safe, and stack neatly for storage. The deep char glaze also contrasts nicely with a bright leafy salad.

Gharyan Enameled Stoneware Olive Oil Bottle

I haven’t made an olive oil bottle successfully (yet), but this Mediterranean-inspired one is a great substitute. The olive-green, 34-ounce dispenser is handmade by Tunisian artisans, and I’m drawn to its soft, rounded form and simple cork stopper.

Sin Ceramic Twist Trivet

Not all functional ceramics are dinnerware, as this Sin kitchen trivet proves. The twisted coils are great for keeping hot pots and pans off your counter, and you can use them as a centerpiece for your homemade desserts served fresh from the oven. The 6.5-inch trivet is made from unglazed speckled clay that gives it a refined, organic look.

Caesna White Stoneware Cereal Bowl

Pottery doesn’t have to have an eye-catching glaze to make it interesting — sometimes a unique shape can draw your attention, too. I like the exaggerated wide rim of this cereal bowl that transforms the simple design into a stylish, functional ceramic dish.

Personal Best Ceramics Spoon Rest

You can never have too many spoon rests, and why buy a mass-produced one when you can have one handmade by a Baltimore artist? The dark, reactive-glazed border nicely complements the robin’s egg-like center of the dish and will keep kitchen utensils from dripping all over your kitchen.

Myrth Ceramics Swig Cup

As a devoted latte drinker, I can imagine brewing my morning espresso into this chic 8-ounce cup from Myrth. It’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and the durable porcelain is resistant to chips and cracks. Plus, I love the depth of the rusty Canyon color with dark brown specks.

Farmhouse Pottery Stoneware Beehive Crock

I’m a huge fan of Farmhouse Pottery’s rustic, timeless wheel-thrown designs. Made by hand in the brand’s Vermont studio, this versatile vessel could be used as a utensil crock or flower vase, and the simple silhouette will complement any kitchen decor.