F.A.Q.
Are those real leaves? Yes, we use real leaves on every piece of Kaleidoscope Pottery, and no leaf is ever re-used. What you see in the clay is only the impression made by the leaf. The leaf is always removed after being pressed into the clay.
Do the leaves burn out in the kiln? No, the leaves must be removed before firing because the slip (a liquid clay, which is sprayed over the leaf-impressed piece to make the background color) would otherwise form a hard ceramic surface after the leaf burns out.
Is wax resist used in the process? No, the leaf is the only thing that masks the clay. No wax is needed.
Won’t food stick in the leaf crevices? No, the entire surface of every piece of Kaleidoscope Pottery that comes into contact with food is covered with glossy glaze. Food will come right off because of this glossy surface.
Isn’t it better to hand-wash Kaleidoscope Pottery instead of putting it in the dishwasher? No, not really. Kaleidoscope Pottery is very durable. It’s more likely that a piece would be dropped in the sink and damaged than hurt by a normal dishwasher cycle. We sell our work to restaurants that wash the pieces repeatedly in industrial dishwashers with no problem.
Can I put Kaleidoscope Pottery in the oven? Yes, but as with all stoneware, it should be done with great care. Pottery should never be thermally shocked. Pieces should be heated and cooled slowly. For example, do not put it in a preheated oven or submerge a hot piece in dishwater. It’s best (for the pottery and for your energy costs!) to put room temperature food and stoneware in a cold oven and let it heat up as the oven does. Allow food to "room up" (reach room temperature--should not feel cold to touch on the outside of the piece) before putting it into the cold oven (or microwave it for a few minutes to remove the chill). Never put Kaleidoscope Pottery in the broiler or a toaster oven or subject it to any kind of open flame. We do not recommend roasting fatty foods in our ware as the hot fat creates uneven heat on the surface of the stoneware. When used with care Kaleidoscope Pottery will heat safely and clean up beautifully, but if you heat it too fast it will crack! Because of this (and the fact that all pottery will break if subjected to extremes) we are not able to replace cracked or broken pieces. Our pottery withstands temperatures far above those of any oven used to cook food (it is fired to over 2300 degrees Fahrenheit). It just can't be subjected to extremes of hot and cold. Any stoneware will crack or chip if mistreated (even our durable work!). Because of this, we cannot offer free or discounted replacement of damaged pottery.
Can I put Kaleidoscope Pottery in the microwave? Yes. However, we do recommend microwaving cold items on half power for the first half of cooking time. (Once again, this is to avoid thermal shock.)
Please note, while we successfully use the pottery in all of the above situations, and have pieces that have been in use for multiple decades, even durable stoneware can develop cracks over time. We feel confident our pottery is as durable as any stoneware. Because pottery is breakable, we cannot offer to replace cracked or broken pieces at discounted rates. We do think you will find our work holds up very well over time. Thanks for understanding. Also note that all work sold directly from us ships packaged carefully and insured against breakage. Should you receive a piece we shipped that was damaged in transit, please contact us right away!
Do the leaves burn out in the kiln? No, the leaves must be removed before firing because the slip (a liquid clay, which is sprayed over the leaf-impressed piece to make the background color) would otherwise form a hard ceramic surface after the leaf burns out.
Is wax resist used in the process? No, the leaf is the only thing that masks the clay. No wax is needed.
Won’t food stick in the leaf crevices? No, the entire surface of every piece of Kaleidoscope Pottery that comes into contact with food is covered with glossy glaze. Food will come right off because of this glossy surface.
Isn’t it better to hand-wash Kaleidoscope Pottery instead of putting it in the dishwasher? No, not really. Kaleidoscope Pottery is very durable. It’s more likely that a piece would be dropped in the sink and damaged than hurt by a normal dishwasher cycle. We sell our work to restaurants that wash the pieces repeatedly in industrial dishwashers with no problem.
Can I put Kaleidoscope Pottery in the oven? Yes, but as with all stoneware, it should be done with great care. Pottery should never be thermally shocked. Pieces should be heated and cooled slowly. For example, do not put it in a preheated oven or submerge a hot piece in dishwater. It’s best (for the pottery and for your energy costs!) to put room temperature food and stoneware in a cold oven and let it heat up as the oven does. Allow food to "room up" (reach room temperature--should not feel cold to touch on the outside of the piece) before putting it into the cold oven (or microwave it for a few minutes to remove the chill). Never put Kaleidoscope Pottery in the broiler or a toaster oven or subject it to any kind of open flame. We do not recommend roasting fatty foods in our ware as the hot fat creates uneven heat on the surface of the stoneware. When used with care Kaleidoscope Pottery will heat safely and clean up beautifully, but if you heat it too fast it will crack! Because of this (and the fact that all pottery will break if subjected to extremes) we are not able to replace cracked or broken pieces. Our pottery withstands temperatures far above those of any oven used to cook food (it is fired to over 2300 degrees Fahrenheit). It just can't be subjected to extremes of hot and cold. Any stoneware will crack or chip if mistreated (even our durable work!). Because of this, we cannot offer free or discounted replacement of damaged pottery.
Can I put Kaleidoscope Pottery in the microwave? Yes. However, we do recommend microwaving cold items on half power for the first half of cooking time. (Once again, this is to avoid thermal shock.)
Please note, while we successfully use the pottery in all of the above situations, and have pieces that have been in use for multiple decades, even durable stoneware can develop cracks over time. We feel confident our pottery is as durable as any stoneware. Because pottery is breakable, we cannot offer to replace cracked or broken pieces at discounted rates. We do think you will find our work holds up very well over time. Thanks for understanding. Also note that all work sold directly from us ships packaged carefully and insured against breakage. Should you receive a piece we shipped that was damaged in transit, please contact us right away!