Questions answered

Everything below is how Zhao Kiln actually works. If something you need is missing, it is because we would rather leave a gap than fill it with a guess.

Safety

Is it food safe?

Yes. The glaze is made to food-contact standards, and every piece is meant to be eaten and drunk from. The interior is sealed with a glossy glaze that is non-porous once fired.

Can I put hot tea or coffee in it?

Yes. Nothing leaches at drinking temperature. The only habit worth keeping is to rinse a cold cup with warm water before pouring boiling water straight in — that is true of all stoneware, not just ours.

What about acidic drinks and food — lemon water, tomato, vinegar?

Fine. The fired body is vitrified and the interior glaze is stable against acid.

Everyday use

Dishwasher?

No. The heat and harsh detergent of a dishwasher cycle dull the carved surface over time. Hand wash with warm water, a soft sponge and a little mild soap. A soft brush lifts anything caught in the carved lines.

Microwave and fridge?

Both are fine.

Will coffee or tea stain it? Will it hold flavours?

Neither. The surface does not take on colour from coffee or tea, and it does not carry yesterday's drink into today's.

Is the unglazed surface rough on the lips?

No. Every rim is ground and polished by hand after firing, specifically so that nothing catches where you drink.

I see fine hairlines in the glaze. Is that a defect?

No — that is crazing, and it is normal. A faint web of hairlines can appear over the years, and occasionally a piece leaves the kiln with it already there. It is not a crack. It is the glaze and the clay settling against one another, and many collectors read it as the most honest mark a hand-made pot can carry.

The pieces themselves

Is the pattern really carved by hand?

Yes. Dark stoneware is brushed with white slip, and while the clay is still leather-hard the pattern is drawn freehand and cut through the slip line by line — the technique is called sgraffito. No transfers, no stamps, no printing.

Who makes them?

Zhao Ruyan, in Yixing. She throws every form, draws every flower and cuts every line herself.

Is each piece signed?

Yes. Every piece carries zhao carved into the foot.

Will mine look exactly like the photograph?

The colour will. Photographs are shot in daylight without colour correction, so what you see is what arrives. The drawing will differ slightly — a lily that takes an afternoon to carve never repeats, because a hand never repeats.

Ordering

How long until it ships?

If the piece is in stock, it ships as soon as your order is in. If it has to be made for you, allow 7–15 days for throwing, carving, firing and finishing — a kiln cannot be hurried. A custom pattern adds another 4–5 days on top of that.

Can I request a custom pattern?

Yes — a pattern of your choosing is +$30, and it adds 4–5 days to the making. The drawing has to be worked out and agreed before a single line is cut, and that part is not something to rush.

Is gift packaging available?

Yes, every piece can be sent in a gift box.

How does it ship?

Free, by a tracked international parcel service, door to door — to Australia, the UK, the EU and South Korea. Shipping to the US or anywhere else? Message us before you order and we'll quote a price with import duties included, so nothing is due on delivery. Each piece is cushioned and boxed by hand — the same hands that made it.

What if it arrives broken?

We carve and fire you a new one — at our cost, with nothing further to pay and nothing to send back. The fastest route is a short unboxing video with the shipping label in frame: with that, your replacement starts the same day. If you didn't film it, send three photos within 48 hours of delivery — the outside of the box, the broken piece still in its packing, and the shipping label — and keep the packaging for 14 days. Dealing with the carrier is our job, not yours. And because a broken parcel costs you time we cannot hand back, your next order comes with custom work free and 10% off.

Can I cancel or return an order?

Within 24 hours of ordering, email us and we'll cancel it in full — no questions. After that, the clay is already on the wheel. A piece carved for you can't go back on a shelf, so we don't take returns for a change of mind. What we do take seriously is anything wrong on our side: arrives broken, or isn't what you ordered — we remake it at our cost, and you send nothing back.

How do I reach you?

Email hello@zhaokiln.com. It reaches the studio directly — there is no support desk in between. Ask before you buy if anything here is unclear; we would rather answer twice than have a piece come back.

Why do you ask for an unboxing video?

Because ceramics travel badly and we would rather remake a piece than argue about one. A short clip means we can start your replacement the same day instead of investigating, and it shows us exactly where the packing failed — which is how the packing gets better. It is not a condition of being looked after; it is simply the quickest way there.

Still unsure about something? Ask before you buy — we would rather answer twice than have a piece come back.