Recently, someone commented on one of my Instagram reels, saying that handmade pottery is too expensive and beyond their budget. This got me reflecting on why handmade pottery costs what it does, how we price our products, and the deeper purpose behind creating handmade items.
Pricing handmade pottery involves more than just setting a number. For my ceramic friends and me, the most significant costs often come from the design process, the time invested, high-quality materials, and the equipment we use, like pottery wheels and kilns, not to mention the utilities required to run them. Creating a single batch of pottery is a lengthy process; from shaping to glazing and multiple firings, each step demands care and patience.
I sell my work at our local farmers market, which happens every Saturday, but I can only participate once a month because of the time it takes to craft enough pieces. The turnaround time is slow because each item is made by hand, and it’s impossible to rush the creative process.
I think it is totally fair that my pottery is not going to be in everyone's budget or taste. I am totally ok with that! There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to art or how people choose to spend their money. I am definitely not gonna have a go at honest hard working people on how they want to spend their money! Everyone has their own priorities and challenges, and I honor and respect that.
What makes handmade pottery truly special isn’t just the price—it’s the connection between the artist and the person using the piece. Each cup I throw has my own throw lines on the inside of the cup. You can trace your finger on the concentric spirals that make up the small undulation of the wall. Also, knowing that my work brings a little more joy and beauty into someone’s daily life really makes my day. In a world that’s increasingly driven by technology, fast fashion, and mass production, handmade pottery serves as a reminder of our humanity. It’s imperfect, personal, and a bit of a rebellion against the impersonal nature of modern consumerism.
To me, that connection—between maker and user, between the imperfect and the cherished—is priceless. It’s about valuing the human touch, the story behind each piece, and the sense of community that handmade items foster.
