I received my e-mail from Quora Digest where there was a question: What are the uses of Pottery?

“Now that’s an interesting question”, I thought. There are innumerable uses of pottery: from dinnerware to building materials (bricks, tiles, gutters) and from jewelry to lamps.

I am more accustomed to the dinnerware / cookware pottery and have therefore prepared this table with their multiple uses I can think of.

On this article you will discover ideas on how to use each pottery piece in multiple ways and enjoy your pottery more.

And despite the fact that all good bloggers suggest to first write the most interesting things on a blog, we are leaving the very important “Collect” use for the end.

So stay tuned till the end.

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY BOWLS

 

– SERVE FROM POTTERY BOWLS –

Pottery bowls are great to serve from.

Each size can be used to serve different kind of food:

• Large ceramic bowls are great to serve delicious fresh salads, soups and meals that contain small pieces (for example rice and peas).
• Medium ceramic bowls can be best used to serve chips and creamy salads (for example salads with basic ingredient yogurt or mayonnaise).
• And small ceramic bowls are perfect to serve sauces & nuts.

Delicious Greek Salad in a ceramic serving bowl

 

– EAT FROM POTTERY BOWLS –

There are certain types of food that are easier to eat from a bowl.

Soups, creamy food and any food that is in very small pieces (like rice), are best eaten in atomic pottery bowls.

And desserts like mousse and ice-cream in atomic and small pottery bowls.

Greek Lentil Soup in Beautiful Atomic Ceramic Bowls

 

– STORE IN POTTERY BOWLS –

Ceramic Bowls are healthier than the plastic ones to store food and definitely more characterful.

Fruits and vegetables, for example, are great to be stored in big ceramic bowls on kitchen counters and dining tables.

Image from Decoholic

 

When it comes to storing food in bowls in the refrigerator, clay bowls have pros and cons:

√ They definitely are a very healthy solution.

√ And you can take the bowl straight from the refrigerator to the table.

× However, their great disadvantage is that they occupy bigger space than the plastic ones and are not stackable when filled.

I would therefore go for glass bowls to store food. The pottery ones I would use to place on top and to immediately serve from (for example fresh salads).

 

 Image from Style Files

 

– DECORATE WITH POTTERY BOWLS –

And from the functional aspect, let’s move to the decorative one.

Pottery bowls are definitely a characterful way to decorate your place!

They can make the difference in every room as described on my previous article 17 Stunning Ideas on How to Use Ceramic Bowls as Decorative Bowls in Every Room.

Scorpios Hotel, Mykonos

 

Moreover, the kind of bowl you select plays a different role on your interior: Do you prefer a matching color to complement your scheme or a non-matching one? An interesting shape to stand out or the classic one? A pattern you love or a monochromatic bowl? […Now that I am thinking of it, “How to select your decorative pottery based on the role it plays on the interior” is a long story and a great idea for a future article…]

-> TIP: In the meantime, you can select your favorite handmade ceramic bowls from our carefully handpicked collection.

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY PLATES AND PLATTERS

 

– EAT FROM POTTERY PLATES –

Pottery plates are used mainly to eat from: From breakfast to dinner and from salads to desserts.

Tory Burch Table-Setting

 

– SERVE IN POTTERY PLATES & PLATTERS –

Both plates and pottery platters are used to serve.

Traditional Greek side dishes to accompany the ouzo drink

There are some best practices on what to serve, based on their size:

• Large ceramic platters are great to serve food that consists of one big piece like meat or big fishes.
• Plates and smaller platters are best used to serve side dishes like roasted red peppers and small fishes.
• Moreover ceramic plates with beautiful patterns (great bonus if it is a hand painted plate) are perfect to be used as canape plates and tea plates.

 

– DECORATE WITH CERAMIC PLATES –

Pottery plates that are handmade or hand painted or have an interesting hue or shape, are often used to add character to a place.

One way to decorate with plates is to showcase them in plate racks.

House of Jasper Conran on Rhodos Island

The most common and impressive way to decorate with plates is by hanging them on the wall. This used to be a traditional trend that lately revived in eclectic and country style homes with great success.

How to create an impressive composition with wall hanging plates? There are lots of factor to consider such as the collection of plates, their hues and patterns, the styling, the area they are placed and the furniture they will complement. […This is a long story too, that I plan to elaborate more on a future article…]

-> TIP: In the meantime, you can select your favorite ceramic plates & platters from our exclusive handpicked collection.

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY CUPS, MUGS AND GLASSES

 

– DRINK –

Ceramic mugs and cups are used to enjoy coffee and tea.

Drinking from them is a procedure for many (me among others). I love collecting cups and I chose everyday my today’s ceramic coffee mug based on my mood, the season and weather.

Wheel-thrown red clay Cup and on top hand painted  from our collection.

 

Less used and still the same impressive are the ceramic glasses perfect for wine and snaps. They add to the warm and natural atmosphere, thanks to the natural clay material they are made of.

Image from Traditional Cretan Tavern “Ta Romanakia”

 

– DECORATE –

Ceramic mugs add interest to the kitchen when placed on open shelves, or are hung from special hooks.

There are two approaches to collecting mugs:

Those who want a complete set, where all pieces are the same. And the result is a calming, stylish and matching effect.

Image from Desire to Inspire

 

And those who buy one piece at a time and therefore each piece is different. This type of collection has a unique, personal and characterful result.

Image from Pinterest

 

-> TIP: Are you searching pieces for your coffee & tea? From Aegean craftsmen & artisans? If yes, select your favorite ceramic cups, mugs & glasses from our carefully handpicked collection.

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY JUGS

 

– SERVE WATER & WINE FROM CERAMIC JUGS –

They are considered the healthiest way to serve water. Especially during summer they are useful, because the clay material keeps the water cool. Additionally, they are perfect for water recipes that complement this natural feeling of the clay (for example water with lemon slices & peppermint!).

Image from Pinterest

 

Wine is what we use ceramic jugs for too. And they are perfect for all sorts of wines, especially the ones we mix with natural ingredients and herbs, like sangria and Gluewein.

 

– PLACE FLOWERS IN CERAMIC JUGS –

Handmade ceramic jugs are often used as vases, because they can hold flowers, thanks to their narrow and tall shape. The result is very stylish!

We mainly see pottery jugs in homes with country, rustic, old world and world traveler’s style. Especially those loving the French country style use the pottery jugs as vases.

Image: Tory Burch Table Setting Suggestions

 

– DECORATE WITH CERAMIC JUGS –

When handmade jugs are made from experienced potters they feature beautiful shapes and patterns. They therefore add character to your home.

That’s the reason why when they are not used to serve, many owners use them as decorative centerpieces.

They are placed on counters and open shelves in the kitchen.

Very often they decorate the dining and living room and are placed on the dining table, or on a bookshelf or on a buffet.

Image from: 10 simple ideas for decorating your home

-> Tip: Are you searching for characterful and artisanal jugs? From experienced Greek Island potters? Then visit our exclusive handpicked collection of ceramic handmade jugs!

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY COOKWARE

 

– COOK IN RED CLAY COOKING POTS –

Cooking in terracotta cooking pots is considered healthy. Additionally, food becomes juicy and fully flavored. Those lucky, who have tasted a meal cooked in pottery cookware, tell it is an amazing culinary experience!

Oven recipes are what they are mostly used for.

Cooking in oven-use clay-pot requires longer time and is therefore considered slow cooking. But it is definitely worth the time!

Veal and potatoes in ceramic cooking pot

 

– SERVE FROM CERAMIC COOKING POTS –

From the oven to the table.

Clay cookware have beautiful shapes & analogies and are warm and characterful. That’s why they are considered a very stylish and practical way to place on the table and serve from.

Image features a traditional Cretan table

 

– EAT FROM ATOMIC COOKING POTS –

Small casserole dishes are perfect to eat from. Food is placed on them (closed with the lid when required) and cooked in the oven. When it is ready, we wait for a while both for the pottery and the food to cool. And then each ceramic cooking pot is placed on a plate and each has his /her very own atomic cooking pot to eat from!

Greek Gigantes in atomic ceramic cooking pot

 

– DECORATE WITH CERAMIC COOKING POTS –

When ceramic cookware is handmade by good craftsmen, they become stunning decorative ceramics. They look perfect on top of your kitchen cabinets.

Country Style Kitchen

-> Tip: Are you searching for stunning ceramics to cook, serve and decorate? If yes, then explore our exquisite collection of handmade terracotta cookware!

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY CANISTERS

 

– STORE IN CERAMIC CANISTERS –

They are used mainly in the kitchen to store sugar, coffee and cookies. Another use worthwhile mentioning is placing olives with olive oil, because the glaze and the ceramic protect them. Or… wooden spoons.

Ceramic Canisters in Anne Parker’s Kitchen

Moreover, you can use them in other rooms too to store for example cotton in the bathroom, accessories in the bedroom and candies on the coffee table.

 

– DECORATE WITH CERAMIC CANISTERS –

You can place your handmade ceramic canister on kitchen counters or shelves, mainly to add a characterful flair to your kitchen. They are perfect for your kitchen because they are beautiful, characterful and functional. Additionally they occupy a small space.

The line between canisters and tall decorative bowls with lid is often blurred. You can therefore make the most of your handmade canisters and showcase them in your living room and dining room.

Decorative Ceramic Canisters in the living room

 

 

MULTIPLE USES OF POTTERY TABLEWARE ACCESSORIES

 

– FUNCTIONAL POTTERY –

There are so many pottery accessories for the table such as ceramic coasters, ceramic candle holders, ceramic oil and vinegar cruet, ceramic egg cups, ceramic salt and pepper shakers etc.

Image from our hand painted collection of the rare Skyriana Ceramics

 

– DECORATE –

Apart from their apparent functional use, they can become decorative pieces for your home:

Place for example the ceramic cruets, shakers and egg cups on your kitchen counter or in open shelves.

And the coasters and the candle holders on your dining table and coffee table.

 

 

COLLECT

There are an increasing number of those who started buying pottery pieces and gradually became collectors. Many don’t use those findings as functional pieces. Nor do they collect to decorate their homes. They just love a type of pottery and try to get as many pieces as they can. […How to become a pottery collector is a great subject for a future blog post…]. What can you do with your collection?

If you have enough space, you can create a room solely with your collections.

For those who wish to admire the collection during the everyday home moments, display it on shelves in the living room. Try many combinations until you reach what your each the most aesthetically attractive result.

Or, if you have lots of pieces and limited space, group them into categories (ex. shapes, colors) and put them too close.

Below are some examples of how your pottery collection can look like.

Pottery collection on bookshelves

 

Rustic pottery collection

 

Redware Collection

 

CONCLUSION

When you own handmade pottery dinnerware and cookware, they are so beautiful and special that you want to enjoy them as much as you can. How? By finding various uses for each and every piece, both functional and decorative!

I hope the above uses and images have inspired you on how to make the most of your favorite ceramic pieces.

-> Tip: If you are searching for characterful ceramic pieces, then visit our Ceramic Dinnerware and Ceramic Cookware and Kitchenware collection. They are handmade with love and care by great Aegean Traditional Craftsmen! And are carefully handpicked by us. 

 

 

YOUR OPINION

Can you think of any other USE OF CERAMIC DINNERWARE AND COOKWARE?

What is your favorite ceramic piece and how do you use it?

Please leave your comments below, we LOVE and VALUE your opinion!