Why Handmade Ceramics Are a Must-Have in Your Collection

Made Local Campaign & Supporting Irish Craftsmanship

This year marks the third year of the Made Local campaign, run by the Design and Crafts Council Ireland.  Launched in 2020, this annual campaign aims to highlight the originality, quality and value of Irish-designed and craft-made products. This is my second year taking part in the campaign, and it’s a wonderful reminder of the value of both supporting local producers and resisting the evasive throw-away culture that has consumed society in recent decades. 

This year’s Made Local campaign message – Made Local, Made to Last – “reminds us that unlike fast, disposable goods, Made Local products are enduring, due to the deep levels of craftsmanship and the emotional connections they evoke…when spending your hard-earned money, spend it on something that will prove lasting to you, the maker and the environment.” 

Why Invest in Handmade Ceramics Made in Ireland

© Seagull Mug_Clare Blount Pottery

Now, let’s discuss why investing in a piece of handmade pottery from Ireland is not just a good idea but a brilliant one. Whether you're eyeing a framed ceramic art piece or a set of exquisite pottery bowls, the uniqueness inherent in handmade ceramics is unparalleled and defies replication by mass production methods. Here are six compelling reasons why this investment is a standout choice. 

1. Get Unique Handcrafted Treasures by Irish Artisans

Adding homeware made by Irish pottery makers to your collection is a great push-back response to the single-use, throwaway culture that has pervaded society in the past couple of decades.  

2. Infuse Character into Your Home

 Filling your home with handmade pottery is a great way to bring an individual and personalised flare to the styling of your home, a style that can be uniquely meaningful and long-lasting.   

3. Customise Pottery for Your Unique Touch

Pieces can be customised to reflect the owner’s personality and style.  Every piece made by a ceramics artist has had many hours of planning and thought put into it before it begins.  Every piece has been touched by the artist’s hands.  

4. Indulge in the Sensory Experience of Handmade Ceramics

Speaking of hands, handmade ceramics feel wonderful to touch.  When you hold a handmade pottery mug in your hands, you can feel the contrast between the rough, unglazed clay and the smooth, shiny glaze.  You can trace your fingers over the marks and carvings intentionally made by the artist. 

5. Wrap Your Hands Around Comfort

The time and effort that goes into making a handmade piece results in an item that exudes character and soul.  And if it’s a beautiful handmade ceramic mug you have bought, wrapping your hands around this warm cup creates a cosiness and comfort that can’t be replicated by your typical store-bought mug.  

6. Embrace the Soul Infused into Each Handmade Piece

A mass-produced ceramic item does not create that sense of connection between the buyer, the artist and the process.  When you buy a piece of Clare Blount Pottery, you are not just getting a functional item for your home, you are getting a one-of-a-kind work of art that has been lovingly crafted with care.  It is a special feeling that can’t be found in a mass-produced piece.

Supporting Local Crafts and Economy

To conclude, the mass production of everyday items has seen the erosion of time-honoured traditional crafts and skills.  Instead of your money going to a large corporation that pays a fraction to the designer, your money will go directly to the maker; this support allows them to continue with their craft. 

Buying artisanal handmade items supports crafts industries; revenue created through these small businesses is put back into our own economy and helps to keep traditional making skills and techniques alive.

Adding Irish handmade ceramics to your collection is not only a great way of bringing art and beauty to your home but is also an effective way to support your local economy, your local community and a real person.